Hybrid pepper plant named HMX5177

ABSTRACT

A novel pepper hybrid plant, designated HMX5177 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of pepper hybrid HMX5177, to the plants and plant parts of pepper hybrid, and to methods for producing a pepper plant by crossing the pepper hybrid HMX5177 with itself or another pepper plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a pepper plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other pepper plants derived from the pepper hybrid plant HMX5177.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/271,685, filed on Sep. 21, 2016, now granted as U.S. Pat. No.10,143,175, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of agriculture, to new anddistinctive hybrid pepper plants, such as hybrid plants designatedHMX5125, HMX5177 and HMX15636, and to methods of making and using suchhybrids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following description includes information that may be useful inunderstanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any ofthe information provided herein is prior art or relevant to thepresently claimed inventions, or that any publication specifically orimplicitly referenced is prior art.

Pepper is an important and valuable vegetable crop. Thus, a continuinggoal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding pepperhybrids that are agronomically sound or unique. The reasons for thisgoal are to maximize the amount of fruit produced on the land used(yield) as well as to improve the fruit appearance, the fruit shape andsize, eating qualities and/or plant horticultural qualities. Toaccomplish this goal, the pepper breeder must select and develop pepperplants that have the traits that result in superior parental lines thatcombine to produce superior hybrids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described inconjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to beexemplary, not limiting in scope.

In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems havebeen reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed toother improvements.

According to the invention, in some embodiments there is provided anovel pepper hybrid, designated HMX5125, HMX5177 or HMX15636. Thisinvention thus relates to the seeds of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, to the plants or parts thereof of pepper hybriddesignated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, to plants or parts thereofconsisting essentially of the phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or having one or more or all of the characteristics ofpepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed inTables 1 to 3 including, but not limited to, as determined at the 5%significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions,and/or having one or more of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to 3 including, but not limited to, asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions, and/or having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to 3 including but notlimited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in thesame environmental conditions and/or having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to 3 when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions. The invention also relates to variants,mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of pepper hybriddesignated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636.

Plant parts of the pepper hybrid plant of the present invention are alsoprovided, such as fruit, peduncle, leaf, flower, cell, pollen, stalk,roots, anther or ovule obtained from the hybrid plant. The presentinvention provides fruit of the pepper hybrid of the present invention.Such fruit and parts thereof could be used as fresh products forconsumption or in processes resulting in processed products such as foodproducts comprising one or more harvested part of the pepper hybriddesignated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, such as prepared fruit orparts thereof, canned fruit or parts thereof, freeze dried or frozenfruit or parts thereof, diced fruits and the like. The harvested part orfood product can be or can comprise the pepper fruits of the pepperhybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. The food productsmight have undergone one or more processing steps such as, but notlimited to cutting, washing, mixing, frizzing, canning, etc. All suchproducts are part of the present invention.

The plants and seeds of the present invention include those that may beof an essentially derived variety as defined in section 41(3) of thePlant Variety Protection Act of The United States of America, e.g., avariety that is predominantly derived from pepper hybrid designatedHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 or from a variety that i) ispredominantly derived from pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636, while retaining the expression of the essentialcharacteristics that result from the genotype or combination ofgenotypes of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636;ii) is clearly distinguishable from pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636; and iii) except for differences that resultfrom the act of derivation, conforms to the initial variety in theexpression of the essential characteristics that result from thegenotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells. Insome embodiments, the regenerable cells are for use in tissue culture ofpepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In someembodiments, the tissue culture is capable of regenerating plantsconsisting essentially of the phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or having all the phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or having the characteristics of pepper hybrid designatedHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In one embodiment, the regeneratedplants have the characteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to 3 including but notlimited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in thesame environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the plant parts andcells used to produce such tissue cultures will be embryos, meristematiccells, seeds, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, pistils, roots, roottips, stems, petioles, cotyledons, hypocotyls, ovaries, seed coat,stalks, endosperm, fruits, flowers, axillary buds or the like.Protoplasts produced from such tissue culture are also included in thepresent invention. The pepper shoots, roots and whole plants regeneratedfrom the tissue culture, as well as the fruit produced by saidregenerated plants are also part of the invention. In some embodiments,the whole plants regenerated from the tissue culture have one, more thanone, or all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofpepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed inTables 1 to 3 including but not limited to as determined at the 5%significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

The invention also discloses methods for vegetatively propagating aplant of the present invention. In some embodiments, the methodscomprise collecting a part of a pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and regenerating a plant from said part. In someembodiments, the part can be for example a stem cutting that is rootedinto an appropriate medium according to techniques known by the oneskilled in the art. Plants, plant parts and fruits thereof produced bysuch methods are also included in the present invention. In anotheraspect, the plants and fruits thereof produced by such methods consistessentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics ofpepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, and/or havingall the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of pepper hybriddesignated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, and/or having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of pepper hybriddesignated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, and/or having thecharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In some embodiments, plants produced by such methods consistof one, more than one, or all phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to 3 including but not limited to asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

Further included in the invention are methods for producing fruitsand/or seeds from the pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In some embodiments, the methods comprise growing a pepperhybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 to produce pepperfruits and/or seeds. In some embodiments, the methods further compriseharvesting the pepper fruits and/or seeds. Such fruits and/or seeds arepart of the present invention.

Also included in this invention are methods for producing a pepperplant. In some embodiments, the pepper plant is produced by crossing thepepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 with itself oranother pepper plant. In some embodiments, the other plant can be apepper hybrid or line. When crossed with an inbred line, in someembodiments, a “three-way cross” is produced. When crossed with itselfor with another, different pepper hybrid, in some embodiments, a“four-way” cross is produced. Such three and four-way hybrid seeds andplants produced by growing said three and four-way hybrid seeds areincluded in the present invention. Methods for producing a three andfour-way pepper hybrid seed comprising crossing pepper hybrid designatedHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 pepper plant with a different pepperline or hybrid and harvesting the resultant pepper hybrid seed are alsopart of the invention. The pepper hybrid seeds produced by the methodcomprising crossing pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 pepper plant with a different pepper plant and harvesting theresultant pepper hybrid seed are included in the invention, as areincluded the pepper hybrid plant or parts thereof and seeds produced bysaid grown pepper hybrid plants.

Further included in the invention are methods for producing pepper seedsand plants made thereof. In some embodiments, the methods compriseself-pollinating the pepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 and harvesting the resultant seeds. Pepper seeds produced bysuch method are also part of the invention.

In another embodiment, this invention relates to methods for producing apepper hybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 from acollection of seeds. In some embodiments, the collection contains bothseeds of inbred parent lines of pepper hybrid designated HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and hybrid seeds of HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. Such a collection of seeds might be a commercial bag of seeds.In some embodiments, said methods comprise planting the collection ofseeds. When planted, the collection of seeds will produce inbred parentlines of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and hybridplants from the hybrid seeds of HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. Insome embodiments, said inbred parent lines of pepper hybrid designatedHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 plants are identified as having adecreased vigor compared to the other plants (i.e., hybrid plants) grownfrom the collection of seeds. In some embodiments, said decreased vigoris due to the inbreeding depression effect and can be identified forexample by a less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductivecharacteristics including a shorter plant height, small fruit size,fruit shape, fruit color or other characteristics. In some embodiments,seeds of the inbred parent lines of the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636 are collected and, if new inbred plants thereof aregrown and crossed in a controlled manner with each other, the pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 will be recreated.

This invention also relates to methods for producing other pepper plantsderived from pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and to thepepper plants derived by the use of those methods.

In some embodiments, such methods for producing a pepper plant derivedfrom the hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 comprise (a)self-pollinating the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636plant at least once to produce a progeny plant derived from pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, themethods further comprise (b) crossing the progeny plant derived frompepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 with itself or a secondpepper plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration. In some embodiments, the methods further comprise (c)growing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation. In someembodiments, the methods further comprise (d) crossing the progeny plantof the subsequent generation with itself or a second pepper plant toproduce a pepper plant further derived from the pepper hybrid HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In further embodiments, steps (b), (c) and/or(d) are repeated for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or moregenerations to produce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybridvariety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, withineach crossing cycle, the second plant is the same plant as the secondplant in the last crossing cycle. In some embodiments, within eachcrossing cycle, the second plant is different from the second plant inthe last crossing cycle.

Another method for producing a pepper plant derived from the hybridvariety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, comprises the steps of: (a)crossing the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 plant with asecond pepper plant to produce a progeny plant derived from pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, the methodfurther comprise (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 with itself or a second pepperplant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation;In some embodiments, the method further comprise (c) growing the progenyplant of the subsequent generation; In some embodiments, the methodfurther comprise (d) crossing the progeny plant of the subsequentgeneration with itself or a second pepper plant to produce a pepperplant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In a further embodiment, steps (b), (c) and/or (d) arerepeated for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more generations toproduce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, within each crossingcycle, the second plant is the same plant as the second plant in thelast crossing cycle. In some embodiments, within each crossing cycle,the second plant is different from the second plant in the last crossingcycle.

In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of introducingor modifying one or more desired trait(s) into the pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and plants or seeds obtained from suchmethods. The desired trait(s) may be, but not exclusively, a singlegene. In some embodiments, the gene is a dominant allele. In someembodiments, the gene is a partially dominant allele. In someembodiments, the gene is a recessive allele. In some embodiments, thegene or genes will confer such traits including, but not limited to malesterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance forbacterial, fungal, mycoplasma or viral disease, enhanced plant qualitysuch as improved drought or salt tolerance, water stress tolerance,improved standability, enhanced plant vigor, improved shelf life,delayed senescence or controlled ripening, enhanced nutritional qualitysuch as increased sugar content or increased sweetness, increasedtexture, flavor and aroma, improved fruit length and/or size, protectionor color, fruit shape, uniformity, length or diameter, refinement ordepth, lodging resistance, yield and recovery. For the present inventionand the skilled artisan, disease is understood to include, but notlimited to fungal diseases, viral diseases, bacterial diseases,mycoplasm diseases, or other plant pathogenic diseases and a diseaseresistant plant will encompass a plant resistant to fungal, viral,bacterial, mycoplasm, and other plant pathogens. The gene or genes maybe naturally occurring pepper gene(s), mutant(s) or genes modifiedthrough New Breeding Techniques. In some embodiments, the method forintroducing the desired trait(s) is a backcrossing process making use ofa series of backcrosses to at least one of the parent lines of pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 during which the desiredtrait(s) is maintained by selection. The single gene conversion plantsthat can be obtained by the methods are included in the presentinvention.

When dealing with a gene that has been modified, for example through NewBreeding Techniques, the trait (genetic modification) could be directlymodified into the newly developed line/cultivar such as at least one ofthe parent lines of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636.Alternatively, if the trait is not modified into each newly developedline/cultivar such as at least one of the parent lines of pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, another typical method used bybreeders of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate the modified geneis to take a line already carrying the modified gene and to use suchline as a donor line to transfer the modified gene into one or more ofthe parents of the newly developed hybrid.

The same would apply for a naturally occurring trait or one arising fromspontaneous or induced mutations.

In some embodiments, the backcross breeding process of pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 comprises (a) crossing one of theparental inbred line plants of HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 withplants of another line that comprise the desired trait(s) to produce F1progeny plants. In some embodiments, the process further comprises (b)selecting the F1 progeny plants that have the desired trait(s). In someembodiments, the process further comprises (c) crossing the selected F1progeny plants with the parental inbred pepper lines of hybrid HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 plants to produce backcross progeny plants. Insome embodiments, the process further comprises (d) selecting forbackcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) andphysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper parentalinbred line of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 to produceselected backcross progeny plants. In some embodiments, the processfurther comprises (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one, two, three, four,five six, seven, eight, nine or more times in succession to produceselected, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth orhigher backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) andconsist essentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristicsof the parental inbred pepper line of pepper HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, and/or have all the phenotypic and morphologicalcharacteristics of the parental pepper inbred line of pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, and/or have the desired trait(s) andthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the parentalinbred pepper line of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 asdetermined in Tables 1 to 3, including but not limited to, at a 5%significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. Thepepper plants or seed produced by the methods are also part of theinvention, as are the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636plants that comprised the desired trait. Backcrossing breeding methods,well known to one skilled in the art of plant breeding will be furtherdeveloped in subsequent parts of the specification.

In an embodiment of this invention is a method of making a backcrossconversion of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In someembodiments, the method comprises crossing one of the parental pepperinbred line plants of hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 with adonor plant comprising a mutant gene(s), a naturally occurring gene(s),or a gene and/or sequences modified through New Breeding Techniquesconferring one or more desired trait to produce F1 progeny plants. Insome embodiments, the method further comprises selecting an F1 progenyplant comprising the naturally occurring gene(s), mutant gene(s) ormodified gene(s) and/or sequences conferring the one or more desiredtrait; In some embodiments, the method further comprises backcrossingthe selected progeny plant to the parental pepper inbred line plants ofhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. This method may furthercomprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of theparental pepper inbred line plants of hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 and using the molecular marker profile to select for theprogeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile ofthe parental pepper inbred line plants of hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In some embodiments, this method further comprises crossingthe backcross progeny plant containing the naturally occurring gene(s),the mutant gene(s) or the modified gene(s) and/or sequences conferringthe one or more desired trait with the second parental inbred pepperline plants of pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 in orderto produce the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 comprisingthe naturally occurring gene(s), the mutant gene(s) or modified gene(s)and/or sequences conferring the one or more desired traits. The plantsor parts thereof produced by such methods are also part of the presentinvention.

In some embodiments of the invention, the number of loci that may bebackcrossed into the parental pepper inbred line of hybrid HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more. A singlelocus may contain several genes. A single locus conversion also allowsfor making one or more site specific changes to the plant genome, suchas, without limitation, one or more nucleotide change, deletion,insertions, etc. In some embodiments, the single locus conversion isperformed by genome editing, a.k.a. genome editing with engineerednucleases (GEEN). In some embodiments, the genome editing comprisesusing one or more engineered nucleases. In some embodiments, theengineered nucleases include, but are not limited to Zinc fingernucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases(TALEN5), the CRISPR/Cas system, and engineered meganucleasere-engineered homing endonucleases and endonucleases for DNA guidedgenome editing (Gao et al., Nature Biotechnology (2016), doi:10.1038/nbt.3547). In some embodiments, the single locus conversionchanges one or several nucleotides of the plant genome. Such genomeediting techniques are some of the techniques now known by the personskilled in the art and herein are collectively referred to as “NewBreeding Techniques”.

The invention further provides methods for developing pepper plants in apepper plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques includingbut not limited to, recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigreebreeding, genomic selection, molecular marker (Isozyme Electrophoresis,Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly AmplifiedPolymorphic DNAs (RAPD5), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms(AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred toas Microsatellites, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), etc.) enhancedselection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Seeds,pepper plants, and parts thereof produced by such breeding methods arealso part of the invention.

The invention also relates to variants, mutants and trivialmodifications of the seed or plant of the pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636 or inbred parental lines thereof. Variants, mutants andtrivial modifications of the seed or plant of pepper hybrid HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 or inbred parental lines thereof can begenerated by methods available to one skilled in the art, including butnot limited to, mutagenesis (e.g., chemical mutagenesis, radiationmutagenesis, transposon mutagenesis, insertional mutagenesis, signaturetagged mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis, and natural mutagenesis),knock-outs/knock-ins, antisense and RNA interference and othertechniques such as the New Breeding Techniques. For more information ofmutagenesis in plants, such as agents or protocols, see Acquaah et al.(Principles of plant genetics and breeding, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007, ISBN1405136464, 9781405136464, which is herein incorporated by reference inits entity).

The invention also relates to a mutagenized population of the pepperhybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 and methods of using suchpopulations. In some embodiments, the mutagenized population can be usedin screening for new pepper plants which comprise one or more or all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, the new pepperplants obtained from the screening process comprise all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of the pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, and one or more additional ordifferent morphological and physiological characteristics that thepepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 does not have.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a pepper plantby crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parent pepperplant wherein either the first or second parent pepper plant is a pepperhybrid plant of HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. Further, both firstand second parent pepper plants can come from the pepper hybrid plantHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. Further, the pepper hybrid plantHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 can be self-pollinated i.e. the pollenof a pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 can pollinatethe ovule of the same pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. When crossed with another pepper plant, a hybrid seed isproduced. Such methods of hybridization and self-pollination are wellknown to those skilled in the art of breeding.

An inbred pepper line such as one of the parental lines of pepper hybridHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 has been produced through severalcycles of self-pollination and is therefore to be considered as ahomozygous line. An inbred line can also be produced though thedihaploid system which involves doubling the chromosomes from a haploidplant or embryo thus resulting in an inbred line that is geneticallystable (homozygous) and can be reproduced without altering the inbredline. Haploid plants could be obtained from haploid embryos that mightbe produced from microspores, pollen, anther cultures or ovary culturesor spontaneous haploidy. The haploid embryos may then be doubled bychemical treatments such as by colchicine or be doubled autonomously.The haploid embryos may also be grown into haploid plants and treated toinduce the chromosome doubling. In either case, fertile homozygousplants are obtained. A hybrid variety is classically created through thefertilization of an ovule from an inbred parental line by the pollen ofanother, different inbred parental line. Due to the homozygous state ofthe inbred line, the produced gametes carry a copy of each parentalchromosome. As both the ovule and the pollen bring a copy of thearrangement and organization of the genes present in the parental lines,the genome of each parental line is present in the resulting F1 hybrid,theoretically in the arrangement and organization created by the plantbreeder in the original parental line.

As long as the homozygosity of the parental lines is maintained, theresulting F1 hybrid cross shall be stable. The F1 hybrid is then acombination of phenotypic characteristics issued from two arrangementand organization of genes, both created by a person skilled in the artthrough the breeding process.

Still further, this invention also is directed to methods for producinga pepper plant derived from pepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 by crossing pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 with a second pepper plant. In some embodiments, the methodsfurther comprise obtaining a progeny seed from the cross. In someembodiments, the methods further comprise growing the progeny seed, andpossibly repeating the crossing and growing steps with the pepper hybridplant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636-derived plant from 0 to 7 or moretimes. Thus, any such methods using the pepper hybrid plant HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 are part of this invention: selfing,backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like.All plants produced using pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 as a parent are within the scope of this invention, includingplants derived from pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In some embodiments, such plants have one, more than one orall phenotypic and morphological characteristics of the pepper hybridplant designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 listed in Tables 1 to3 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significancelevel when grown in the same environmental conditions. In someembodiments, such plants might exhibit additional and desiredcharacteristics or traits such as high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, early maturity, high fruit yield, diseasetolerance or resistance, lodging resistance and adaptability for soiland climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a preference fora given fruit size, fruit color, fruit texture, fruit taste, fruitfirmness, fruit sugar content are other traits that may be incorporatedinto new pepper plants developed by this invention.

A pepper plant can also be propagated vegetatively. A part of the plant,for example a shoot tissue, is collected, and a new plant is obtainedfrom the part. Such part typically comprises an apical meristem of theplant. The collected part is transferred to a medium allowingdevelopment of a plantlet, including for example rooting or developmentof shoots, or is grafted onto a pepper plant or a rootstock prepared tosupport growth of shoot tissue. This is achieved using methodswell-known in the art. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method ofvegetatively propagating a plant of the present invention comprisescollecting a part of a plant according to the present invention, e.g. ashoot tissue, and obtaining a plantlet from said part. In oneembodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating a plant of the presentinvention comprises: a) collecting tissue of a plant of the presentinvention; b) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rootedplantlets. In one embodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating aplant of the present invention comprises: a) collecting tissue of aplant of the present invention; b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets. In one embodiment, such method further comprisesgrowing a plant from said plantlets. In one embodiment, fruit harvestedfrom said plant. In one embodiment, the fruit is processed into productssuch as canned fruits and/or parts thereof, freeze dried or frozen fruitand/or parts thereof, fresh or prepared fruit and/or parts thereof orsauces and the like.

The invention is also directed to the use of the pepper hybrid plantHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 in a grafting process. In oneembodiment, the pepper hybrid plant HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 isused as the scion while in another embodiment, the pepper hybrid plantHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 is used as a rootstock.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a seed of pepperhybrid designated HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said hybrid is deposited under NCIMBNo. 42765, NCIMB No. 42766 and/or NCIMB No. 42767.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a pepper plant, or apart thereof, produced by growing the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches pepper plant parts,wherein the pepper part is selected from the group consisting of a leaf,a flower, a fruit, a seed, an ovule, pollen, a cell.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a pepper plant, or apart thereof, having all of the characteristics of hybrid HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 as listed in Tables 1 to 3 of this applicationincluding but not limited to when grown in the same environmentalconditions.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a pepper plant, or apart thereof, having all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said hybrid was deposited under NCIMBNo. 42765, NCIMB No. 42766 and/or NCIMB No. 42767.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a tissue culture ofregenerable cells produced from the plant or plant part grown from thedeposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed, wherein cells of thetissue culture are produced from a plant part selected from the groupconsisting of protoplasts, embryos, meristematic cells, callus, pollen,ovules, flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, stems,petioles, fruits, axillary buds, cotyledons and hypocotyls. In someembodiments, the plant part includes protoplasts produced from a plantgrown from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a pepper plantregenerated from the tissue culture from a plant grown from thedeposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed, said plant having thecharacteristics of hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said hybrid is deposited under NCIMBNo. 42765, NCIMB No. 42766 and/or NCIMB No. 42767.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a pepper fruitproduced from the plant grown from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 seed.

In some embodiments, methods of producing said pepper fruit comprise a)growing the pepper plant from deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636seed to produce a pepper fruit, and b) harvesting said pepper fruit. Insome embodiments, the present invention also teaches a pepper fruitproduced by the method of producing pepper fruit and/or seed asdescribed above.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producinga pepper seed comprising crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant and harvesting the resultant pepper seed,wherein said first parent pepper plant and/or second parent pepper plantis the pepper plant produced from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 seed or a pepper plant having all of the characteristics ofpepper hybrid HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 as listed in Tables 1 to3, including but not limited to when grown in the same environmentalconditions.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producinga pepper seed comprising self-pollinating the pepper plant grown fromthe deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed and harvesting theresultant pepper seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches the seed produced byany of the above described methods.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods ofvegetatively propagating the pepper plant grown from the depositedHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed, said method comprising a)collecting part of a plant grown from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636 seed and b) regenerating a plant from said part.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises harvesting a fruitand/or seed from said vegetatively propagated plant.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches the plant and thefruit and/or seed of plants vegetatively propagated from plant parts ofplants grown from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods of producinga pepper plant derived from the hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636. In some embodiment the methods comprise (a) self-pollinatingthe plant grown from the deposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seedat least once to produce a progeny plant derived from pepper HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments, the method furthercomprises (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from pepper HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 with itself or a second pepper plant to producea seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation; and; (c) growingthe progeny plant of the subsequent generation from the seed, andcrossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself or asecond pepper plant to produce a pepper plant derived from the pepperhybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodimentssaid methods further comprise the step of: (d) repeating steps b) and/orc) for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more generation to produce apepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods of producinga pepper plant derived from the hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636, the methods comprising (a) crossing the plant grown from thedeposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed with a second pepperplant to produce a progeny plant derived from pepper HMX5125, HMX5177and/or HMX15636; In some embodiments, the method further comprises; (b)crossing the progeny plant derived from pepper HMX5125, HMX5177 and/orHMX15636 with itself or a second pepper plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation; and; (c) growing the progenyplant of the subsequent generation from the seed; (d) crossing theprogeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself or a secondpepper plant to produce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybridvariety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636. In some embodiments saidmethods further comprise the steps of: (e) repeating step (b), (c)and/or (d) for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more generation toproduce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5125,HMX5177 and/or HMX15636.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches plants grown from thedeposited HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 seed wherein said plantscomprise at least one single locus conversion. In some embodiments saidsingle locus conversion confers said plants with a trait selected fromthe group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, insectresistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, mycoplasma or viraldisease, enhanced plant quality such as improved drought or salttolerance, water stress tolerance, improved standability, enhanced plantvigor, improved shelf life, delayed senescence or controlled ripening,enhanced nutritional quality such as increased sugar content orincreased sweetness, increased texture, flavor and aroma, improved fruitlength and/or size, protection or color, fruit shape, uniformity, lengthor diameter, refinement or depth, lodging resistance, yield and recoverywhen compared to a suitable check plant. In some embodiments, the checkplant is a pepper hybrid variety HMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636 nothaving said single locus conversion. In some embodiments, the at leastone single locus conversion is an artificially mutated gene or a gene ornucleotide sequence modified through the use of New Breeding Techniques.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of thefollowing descriptions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

In the description and tables that follow, a number of terms are used.In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Allele. An allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a genewhich relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell ororganism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on apair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedlycrosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a firstgeneration hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotype of the F₁ hybrid.

Collection of seeds. In the context of the present invention acollection of seeds is a grouping of seeds mainly containing similarkind of seeds, for example hybrid seeds having the inbred line of theinvention as a parental line, but that may also contain, mixed togetherwith this first kind of seeds, a second, different kind of seeds, of oneof the inbred parent lines, for example the inbred line of the presentinvention. A commercial bag of hybrid seeds having the inbred line ofthe invention as a parental line and containing also the inbred lineseeds of the invention would be, for example such a collection of seeds.

Decreased vigor. A plant having a decreased vigor in the presentinvention is a plant that, compared to other plants has a less vigorousappearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics includingshorter plant height, small fruit size, fewer fruit or othercharacteristics

Enhanced nutritional quality. The nutritional quality of the pepper ofthe present invention can be enhanced by the introduction of severaltraits comprising a higher endosperm sugar content, increased sweetness,a thinner pericarp, various endosperm types or mutants.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. Aplant having essentially all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics means a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent, except for the characteristicsderived from the converted gene.

Grafting. Grafting is the operation by which a rootstock is grafted witha scion. The primary motive for grafting is to avoid damages bysoil-born pest and pathogens when genetic or chemical approaches fordisease management are not available. Grafting a susceptible scion ontoa resistant rootstock can provide a resistant cultivar without the needto breed the resistance into the cultivar. In addition, grafting mayenhance tolerance to abiotic stress, increase yield and result in moreefficient water and nutrient uses.

Immunity to disease(s) and or insect(s). A pepper plant which is notsubject to attack or infection by specific disease(s) and or insect(s)is considered immune.

Industrial usage: The industrial usage of the pepper of the presentinvention comprises the use of the pepper fruit for consumption, whetheras fresh products or in canning or freezing industries.

Intermediate resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A pepper plantthat restricts the growth and development of specific disease(s) and orinsect(s), but may exhibit a greater range of symptoms or damagecompared to high resistant plants. Intermediate resistant plants willusually show less severe symptoms or damage than susceptible plantvarieties when grown under similar environmental conditions and/orspecific disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure, but may have heavy damageunder heavy pressure. Intermediate resistant pepper plants are notimmune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

Maturity. In the Region of best adaptability, maturity is the number ofdays from transplanting to mature green stage.

Moisture. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of the grain atharvest.

New Breeding Techniques: New breeding techniques are said of various newtechnologies developed and/or used to create new characteristics inplants through genetic variation, the aim being targeted mutagenesis,targeted introduction of new genes or gene silencing (RdDM). Example ofsuch new breeding techniques are targeted sequence changes facilitatedthru the use of Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology (ZFN-1, ZFN-2 andZFN-3, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,565, incorporated by reference in itsentirety), Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM), Cisgenesis andintragenesis, RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM, which does notnecessarily change nucleotide sequence but can change the biologicalactivity of the sequence), Grafting (on GM rootstock), Reverse breeding,Agro-infiltration (agro-infiltration “sensu stricto”, agro-inoculation,floral dip), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN5,see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,586,363 and 9,181,535, incorporated by reference intheir entireties), the CRISPR/Cas system (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,359;8,771,945; 8,795,965; 8,865,406; 8,871,445; 8,889,356; 8,895,308;8,906,616; 8,932,814; 8,945,839; 8,993,233; and 8,999,641, which are allhereby incorporated by reference), engineered meganuclease re-engineeredhoming endonucleases, DNA guided genome editing (Gao et al., NatureBiotechnology (2016), doi: 10.1038/nbt.3547, incorporated by referencein its entirety), and Synthetic genomics). A complete description ofeach of these techniques can be found in the report made by the JointResearch Center (JRC) Institute for Prospective Technological Studies ofthe European Commission in 2011 and titled “New plant breedingtechniques—State-of-the-art and prospects for commercial development”,which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Plant adaptability. A plant having good plant adaptability means a plantthat will perform well in different growing conditions and seasons.

Plant Cell. As used herein, the term “plant cell”, includes plant cellswhether isolated, in tissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plantpart.

Plant Part. As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which pepper plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers,seeds, ears, kernels, rootstock, scions, stems, roots, anthers, pistils,root tips, leaves, meristematic cells, axillary buds, hypocotylscotyledons, ovaries, seed coat endosperm and the like.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Quantitative trait loci refer to geneticloci that control to some degree numerically representable traits thatare usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant fromtissue culture.

Resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A pepper plant that restrictsthe growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s) undernormal disease(s) and or insect(s) attack pressure when compared tosusceptible plants. These pepper plants can exhibit some symptoms ordamage under heavy disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure. Resistantpepper plants are not immune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

Root Lodging. The root lodging is the percentage of plants that rootlodge; i.e., those that lean from the vertical axis at an approximate30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

Rootstock. A rootstock is the lower part of a plant capable of receivinga scion in a grafting process.

Scion. A scion is the higher part of a plant capable of being graftedonto a rootstock in a grafting process.

Single gene converted (conversion). Single gene converted (conversion)plants refer to plants which are developed by a plant breeding techniquecalled backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of a plant are recovered in additionto the single gene transferred into the plant via the backcrossingtechnique or via genetic engineering. A single gene converted plant canalso be referred to a plant obtained though mutagenesis or through theuse of some new breeding techniques, whereas the single gene convertedplant has essentially all of the desired morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the original variety in addition to the single geneor nucleotide sequence muted or engineered through the new breedingtechniques.

Susceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s). A pepper plant that issusceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s) is defined as a pepper plantthat has the inability to restrict the growth and development ofspecific disease(s) and or insect(s). Plants that are susceptible willshow damage when infected and are more likely to have heavy damage undermoderate levels of specific disease(s) and or insect(s).

Tolerance to abiotic stresses. A pepper plant that is tolerant toabiotic stresses has the ability to endure abiotic stress withoutserious consequences for growth, appearance and yield.

Uniformity. Uniformity, as used herein, describes the similarity betweenplants or plant characteristics which can be a described by qualitativeor quantitative measurements.

Variety. A plant variety as used by one skilled in the art of plantbreeding means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of thelowest known rank which can be defined by the expression of thecharacteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination ofphenotypes, distinguished from any other plant grouping by theexpression of at least one of the said characteristics and considered asa unit with regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged(International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants(UPOV)).

Yield. The yield is the tons, or other common measure such as fruitnumber, weight or boxes (1 1/9 bushel) of pepper fruit per acre. It canalso be defined as the number of fruit per acre or per plant.

Pepper Plants

The term pepper as used in agriculture may refer to quite differentplant species. For example, some plants in the genera Piper, Capsicum,Pimenta, Zanthoxylum, Schinus, and several other species are calledpepper. As used herein, the term pepper mainly refers to a plant speciesin the Capsicum genus, unless specified otherwise.

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanaceae family. Itsspecies are native to the Americas, where they have been cultivated forthousands of years by the people of the tropical Americas, and are nowcultivated worldwide. Some of the members of Capsicum are used asspices, vegetables, and medicines. The fruit of Capsicum plants have avariety of names depending on geographic location and fruit shape ortype. They are commonly called chili pepper, red or green pepper, orsweet pepper in Britain, and typically called just capsicum inAustralia, New Zealand, and Indian English. The large mild form iscalled bell pepper in the U.S. and Canada. They are called paprika insome other countries (although, somewhat confusingly, paprika can alsorefer to the powdered spice made from various capsicum fruit).

The fruit of most species of Capsicum contain capsaicin (methyl vanillylnonenamide), a lipophilic chemical that can produce a strong burningsensation in the mouth of the unaccustomed eater. The secretion ofcapsaicin protects the fruit from consumption by mammals while thebright colors attract birds that will disperse the seeds. Capsaicin ispresent in largest quantities in the placental tissue (which holds theseeds), the internal membranes and, to a lesser extent, the other fleshyparts of the fruits of plants in the genus Capsicum. The seedsthemselves do not produce any capsaicin, although the highestconcentration of capsaicin can be found in the white pith around theseeds. The amount of capsaicin in Capsicums is highly variable anddependent on genetics, giving almost all types of Capsicums variedamounts of perceived heat. The only Capsicum without capsaicin is thebell pepper, a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, which has a zero rating onthe Scoville scale. The lack of capsaicin in bell peppers is due to arecessive gene that eliminates capsaicin and, consequently, the “hot”taste usually associated with the rest of the Capsicum family.

Chili peppers are of great importance in Native American medicine, andcapsaicin is used in modern medicine—mainly in topical medications—as acirculatory stimulant and analgesic. In more recent times, an aerosolextract of capsaicin, usually known as capsicum or pepper spray, hasbecome widely used by police forces as a non-lethal means ofincapacitating a person, and in a more widely dispersed form for riotcontrol, or by individuals for personal defense. Although black pepperand Sichuan pepper cause similar burning sensations, they are caused bydifferent substances—piperine and hydroxy-alpha sanshool, respectively.

Non-limiting exemplary Capsicum species include, C. annuum, C.frutescens, C. chinense, C. pendulum, C. pubescens, C. minimum, C.baccatum, C. abbreviatum, C. anomalum, C. breviflorum, C. buforum, C.brasilianum, C. campylopodium, C. cardenasii, C. chacoense, C. ciliare,C. ciliatum, C. chlorocladium, C. coccineum, C. cordifbrme, C. cornutum,C. dimorphum, C. dusenii, C. exile, C. eximium, C. fasciculatum, C.fastigiatum, C. flexuosum, C. galapagoense, C. geminifolum, C.hookerianum, C. lanceolatum, C. leptopodum, C. luteum, C. microcarpum,C. minutiflorum, C. mirabile, C. parvifolium, C. praetermissum, C.schottianum, C. scolnikianum, C. stramonifolium, C. tetragonum, C.tovarii, C. villosum, and C. violaceum. More Capsicum species aredescribed in Heiser and Smith (The cultivated Capsicum peppers. Econ Bot7:214-227), Pickersgill (1988, The genus Capsicum: a multidisciplinaryapproach to the taxonomy of cultivated and wild plants. BiologischesZentralblatt 107:381-389), De (Capsicum: the genus Capsicum, Volume 33of Medicinal and aromatic plants, Publisher CRC Press, 2003, ISBN0415299918, 9780415299916), Bosland and Votava (Peppers: vegetable andspice capsicums, Issue 12 of Crop production science in horticulture,Publisher CABI, 2000, ISBN 0851993354, 9780851993355), and Andrews(Peppers: the domesticated Capsicums, Publisher University of TexasPress, 1995, ISBN 0292704674, 9780292704671).

Capsicum species have been characterized based on morphology, isozymeanalysis, cytology, hybridization, restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP),random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), sequence specific amplificationpolymorphism (S-SAP), simple sequence repeat length polymorphism(SSRLP), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), cleaved amplifiedpolymorphic sequence (CAPS), and direct or directed amplification ofminisatellite region DNA amplified using the polymerase chain reaction(DAMD-PCR), for the identification of genotypes or accessions at thetaxonomic level, assessment of the relative diversity or similaritywithin and between species, and selection of diverse accessions withdesirable traits for breeding purposes (Eshbaugh 1993; Prince et al.1992; Rodriguez et al. 1999; Lefebvre et al. 2001; Adetula 2006; Guzmanet al. 2005; Ince et al. 2009).

Most Capsicum species are diploid (2n=2x=24), but there are a fewspecies for which the genome is 2n=2x=32. Capsicum has a large genome,with the DNA content ranging from 7.65 pg/nucleus in C. annuum to 9.72pg/nucleus in C. pubescens, and with a general mean of 8.42 pg/nucleus.Capsicum genes have been studied for almost a century since 1912, and alist of genes and related traits are described by Wang (2006, The Genesof Capsicum, HortScience 41(5) 1169-1187), which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Enzymatic studies of Capsicum (Jensen et al., Taxon, 28:315-327, 1979;McLeod et al, 1979a (Bull Torrey Bot Club 106:326-333.), 1979b (Pages701-713 in J G Hawkes, R N Lester, A D Skelding, eds. The biology andtaxonomy of the Solanaceae. Academic Press, London), 1982 (Econ Bot36:361-368), and 1983 (Evolution 37:562-574)) have demonstrated thatCapsicum species can be grouped into three taxonomic categories(Capsicum annuum complex, Capsicum baccatum complex, and Capsicumeximium complex) that somewhat agreed with groupings based on flowercolor.

Capsicum annuum

Capsicum annum is a domesticated species of the plant genus Capsicumnative to South America and it is now cultivated worldwide. Despitebeing a single species, the Capsicum annuum has many forms, with avariety of names, even in the same language. In American English it iscommonly known as the chili pepper, although not all varieties would berecognized by most speakers under this name. In British English, thesweet varieties are called peppers and the hot varieties are calledchilies, whereas in Australian English the name capsicum is commonlyused for bell peppers exclusively and chili is often used to encompassthe hotter varieties. Its forms are varied, from large to small, sweetto sour, very hot to bland.

The plant is a herbaceous annual, with a densely branched stem. Theplant reaches 0.5-1.5 m (20-60 in). Single white flowers bear the fruitwhich is green when unripe, changing principally to red, although somevarieties may ripen to brown or purple. While the species can toleratemost climates, they are especially productive in warm and dry climates.

Non-limiting exemplary Capsicum annuum varieties include, Aleppo,Anaheim, Bell, Cascabel, Cayenne, Cherry, Chilaca, Chiltepin, Cubanelle,De árbol, Fresno, Guajillo, Guntur, Sannam, Hungarian wax, Italian sweetpepper, Jalapeño, Japanese, Mirasol, Macho, New Mexico, Pepperoncini,Pequin pepper, Poblano, Puya, Serrano, Super Chili, and Tien Tsin.

Bell Pepper

Bell pepper or sweet pepper or sweet bell pepper is a cultivar group ofthe species Capsicum annuum. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits indifferent colors, for example, green, red, yellow, orange, white,purple, and rainbow, depending on when they are harvested and thespecific cultivar. The term “bell pepper” is often used for any of thelarge bell shaped capsicum fruits, regardless of their color. As usedherein, the phrase “bell pepper” is equivalent to “blocky type pepper”or “blocky shape pepper”, as this term is understood by those skilled inthe art of pepper breeding and pepper production. The fruit is alsofrequently consumed in its unripe form, when the fruit is still green.

In the United States and Canada, in addition to the terms “bell pepper”and “sweet pepper,” the fruit is often referred to simply as a “pepper”or referred to by color (e.g. “red pepper”, “green pepper”, “yellowpepper”), although the more specific term “bell pepper” is understood inmost regions. In parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, the fruit iscalled a “mango”. The origin of this use is in the use of the term“mango” or “mangoed” to refer to pickled fruits. At a certain time,mangoes were available in the United States only in pickled form. Later,it became common in these regions to use bell peppers in pickled form,thus the term “mangoed peppers” or “mango peppers” later shortened to“mangoes.”

Green peppers are less sweet and slightly bitter than red, yellow ororange peppers. The taste of ripe peppers can also vary with growingconditions and post-harvest storage treatment; the sweetest are fruitallowed to ripen fully on the plant in full sunshine, while fruitharvested green and after-ripened in storage are less sweet. Compared togreen peppers, red peppers have more vitamins and nutrients and containthe antioxidant lycopene. The level of carotene, another antioxidant, isnine times higher in red peppers. Red peppers also have twice thevitamin C content of green peppers. Orange bell peppers (or paprikas)contain even more vitamin C and significantly more vitamin A. Orangebell peppers are both juicy and sweet, and because they contain lessthan half the calories of an orange, orange bell peppers arepre-eminently appropriate as a refreshing, low-calorie food, both rawand prepared in any dish. They can be eaten raw without havingindigestion later.

Hybrid vigor has been documented in peppers and hybrids are gaining moreand more popularity amongst farmers with uniformity of plantcharacteristics.

Hybrid commercial pepper seed can be produced by hand pollination.Pollen of the male parent is harvested and manually applied to thestigmatic surface of the female inbred. Prior to and after handpollination, flowers are covered so that insects do not bring foreignpollen and create a mix or impurity. Flowers are tagged to identifypollinated fruit from which seed will be harvested

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirableplant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definitionof problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishmentof program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives.The next step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits tomeet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety orhybrid an improved combination of desirable traits from the parentalgermplasm.

In pepper, these important traits may include increased fruit number,fruit size and fruit weight, higher seed yield, improved color,resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to drought and heat,better uniformity, higher nutritional value and better agronomicquality, growth rate, high seed germination, seedling vigor, early fruitmaturity, ease of fruit setting, adaptability for soil and climateconditions, firmness, content in soluble solids. With mechanicalharvesting of processing pepper, fruit setting concentration,harvestability and field holding are also very important.

In some embodiments, particularly desirable traits that may beincorporated by this invention are improved resistance to differentviral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens. Important diseases include butare not limited to Tobacco Mosaic Virus, (caused by TobamovirusPathotype 0), Tomato Mosaic Virus (caused by Tobamovirus Pathotype 1-2),Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (caused by Tobamovirus Pathotype 1-2-3), PotatoVirus Y (caused by Potato Virus Y Pathotype 0, 1 or 1-2), Phytophthora(caused by Phytophthora capsici), Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Tomato SpottedWilt Virus, Bacterial Spot (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria, multiple races). Improved resistance to insect pests isanother desirable trait that may be incorporated into new pepper plantsdeveloped by this invention. Insect pests affecting the various speciesof pepper include, but not limited to arthropod pests such as tutaabsoluta, franklienella occidentalis, bemisia tabaci, etc.

Other desirable traits include traits related to improved pepper fruits.A non-limiting list of fruit phenotypes used during breeding selectioninclude:

-   -   Intensity of Color at Green Stage. The color at green stage is        the measure of the color prior to physiological maturity and is        typically the stage when fruit have reached full size and        firmness to be harvested for commercial sales. It ranges between        very light green to very dark green.    -   pH. The pH is a measure of acidity of the fruit puree. A pH        under 4.5 is desirable to prevent bacterial spoilage of finished        products. pH rises as fruit matures.    -   Fruit Color. Fruit color is measured as Hunters a/b ratio, where        a represents red/green, positive values are red, negative values        are green and 0 is neutral; b represents yellow/blue, where        positive values are yellow, negative values are blue and 0 is        neutral; a/b represents the intense of redness: large value        represents deep red color, small value represents light or        yellowish red color.    -   Fruit Shape. Fruit shape is the overall shape of the intact        fruit and ranges from pointed to blocky.    -   Fruit Weight. The weight of a single fruit or the average of        many fruit measured at harvest maturity and recorded in a        convenient unit of measure.    -   Fruit firmness. The fruit firmness is the resistance to        penetration and is measured using a Digital Durometer Model        DD-4-00 (Rex Gauge company, Buffalo Grove, Ill., USA). Durometer        readings are taken at 4 locations (each about 90 degrees apart)        on the approximate mid-point of a pepper, with the pepper laying        on its side. From a fruit sample collected at a given location,        the resistance to penetration is measured with the durometer        from 9 individual fruit at 4 locations per fruit (a total of 36        independent measurements). The P5 value is calculated from the        following equation: D-39/10, where D is the value from the        Durometer.    -   Fruit Glossiness. Fruit glossiness is a measure of the        reflectance of the fruit surface and ranges from very weak        (dull) to very strong (shiny).    -   Fruit Texture. Fruit texture is the measure of the surface        texture of the fruit which can range from smooth to strongly        wrinkled.    -   Plant Cover. Plant cover describes the extent of the outer layer        of leaves of an individual plant. The relative area of the        leaves covering or forming a canopy of leaves to cover the fruit        and provide protection from direct sunlight. Scores range from        very poor cover to heavy cover.        Pepper Breeding

The goal of pepper breeding is to develop new, unique and superiorpepper inbred lines and hybrids. The breeder initially selects andcrosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing andselection, producing many new genetic combinations. Another method usedto develop new, unique and superior pepper inbred lines and hybridsoccurs when the breeder selects and crosses two or more parental linesfollowed by haploid induction and chromosome doubling that result in thedevelopment of dihaploid inbred lines. The breeder can theoreticallygenerate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing,selfing and mutations and the same is true for the utilization of thedihaploid breeding method.

During the development of new pepper inbreds and hybrids, the pepperbreeder uses pepper plants, but also non-commercial pepper plants, suchas plants that may contain characteristics that the breeder has interestin having in its pepper inbreds and hybrids. Such non-commercial pepperplants could be wild relatives of pepper species.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections arethen made, during and at the end of the growing season. The inbred linesdeveloped are unpredictable. This unpredictability is because thebreeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control atthe DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures or dihaploidbreeding procedures), and with millions of different possible geneticcombinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the artcannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except possibly ina very broad and general fashion. This unpredictability results in theexpenditure of large research monies to develop superior new pepperinbred lines and hybrids.

The development of commercial pepper hybrids requires the development ofhomozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluationof the F1 hybrid crosses.

Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used todevelop inbred lines from breeding populations. Breeding programscombine desirable traits from two or more inbred lines or variousbroad-based sources into breeding pools from which inbred lines aredeveloped by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes or through thedihaploid breeding method followed by the selection of desiredphenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and thehybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which havecommercial potential.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plantreproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and thetype of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, purelinecultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superiorindividual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective,whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based onmean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of relatedplants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection,modified pedigree selection, mass selection, recurrent selection, andbackcross breeding.

i Pedigree Selection, Single and Multiple Seed Procedures

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement ofself-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Twoparents possessing favorable, complementary traits are crossed toproduce an F₁ plant. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one orseveral F₁s or by intercrossing two F₁s (sib mating). The dihaploidbreeding method could also be used. Selection of the best individualsmay begin in the F₂ population; with selection of the best individualsin the best families beginning in the F3 generation. In pepper earlygeneration testing is generally not successful as an elite hybrid mustcarry many highly heritable traits together to be successful. Selectionof these traits in combination acts more like a complex trait. It isimportant to be able to evaluate a uniform row or rows of a new hybridto identify whether all the traits are present. In addition, replicatedtesting of the inbred families is not done until the elite hybridcombinations have been identified, as we look at many new F6 ordihaploid lines in combination each year, saving around 5% after hybridevaluations.

Replicated testing of F5-F7 lines or dihaploid lines in hybridcombination is done using elite inbred lines as common testers. Thisbegins the process of evaluating hybrids over several environments(locations and years) to determine which of these hybrids have the bestchance for commercialization

The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to plantinga segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, andusing the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When thepopulation has been advanced from the F2 to the desired level ofinbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace todifferent F2 individuals. The number of plants in a population declineseach generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plantsto produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F2 plantsoriginally sampled in the population will be represented by a progenywhen generation advance is completed.

In a multiple-seed procedure, breeders commonly harvest one or morefruit containing seed from each plant in a population and blend themtogether to form a bulk seed lot. Part of the bulked seed is used toplant the next generation and part is put in reserve. The procedure hasbeen referred to as modified single-seed descent or the bulk technique.

The multiple-seed procedure has been used to save labor at harvest. Itis considerably faster than removing one seed from each fruit by handfor the single seed procedure. The multiple-seed procedure also makes itpossible to plant the same number of seeds of a population eachgeneration of inbreeding. Enough seeds are harvested to make up forthose plants that did not germinate or produce seed.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used fordifferent traits and crops can be found in one of several referencebooks (e.g., R. W. Allard, 1960, Principles of Plant Breeding, JohnWiley and Son, pp. 115-161; N. W. Simmonds, 1979, Principles of CropImprovement, Longman Group Limited; W. R. Fehr, 1987, Principles of CropDevelopment, Macmillan Publishing Co.; N. F. Jensen, 1988, PlantBreeding Methodology, John Wiley & Sons).

ii Backcross Breeding

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivaror inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait tobe transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant isexpected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar)and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After theinitial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the recurrentparent and the trait of interest from the donor parent are selected andrepeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resultingplant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g.,cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.

When the term pepper hybrid plant is used in the context of the presentinvention, this also includes any pepper hybrid plant where one or moredesired trait has been introduced through backcrossing methods, whethersuch trait is a naturally occurring one, a mutant or a gene or anucleotide sequence modified by the use of New Breeding Techniques.Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce one or more characteristic into the inbred parental linethus potentially introducing these traits in to the pepper hybrid plantof the present invention. The term “backcrossing” as used herein refersto the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to the recurrentparent, i.e., backcrossing one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental pepperplant which contributes the gene or the genes for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental pepper plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbred of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the gene or genes of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein all the desired morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, generally determined at a 5% significance level when grown in thesame environmental conditions, in addition to the gene or genestransferred from the nonrecurrent parent. It has to be noted that some,one, two, three or more, self-pollination and growing of populationmight be included between two successive backcrosses. Indeed, anappropriate selection in the population produced by theself-pollination, i.e. selection for the desired trait and physiologicaland morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent might beequivalent to one, two or even three additional backcrosses in acontinuous series without rigorous selection, saving then time, moneyand effort to the breeder. A non-limiting example of such a protocolwould be the following: a) the first generation F1 produced by the crossof the recurrent parent A by the donor parent B is backcrossed to parentA, b) selection is practiced for the plants having the desired trait ofparent B, c) selected plant are self-pollinated to produce a populationof plants where selection is practiced for the plants having the desiredtrait of parent B and physiological and morphological characteristics ofparent A, d) the selected plants are backcrossed one, two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more times to parent A to produceselected backcross progeny plants comprising the desired trait of parentB and the physiological and morphological characteristics of parent A.Step (c) may or may not be repeated and included between the backcrossesof step (d).

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute one or more trait(s) or characteristic(s) in theoriginal inbred parental line in order to find it then in the hybridmade thereof. To accomplish this, a gene or genes of the recurrentinbred is modified or substituted with the desired gene or genes fromthe nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest ofthe desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological andmorphological constitution of the original inbred. The choice of theparticular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of thebackcross. One of the major purposes is to add some commerciallydesirable, agronomically important trait(s) to the plant. The exactbackcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic(s) or trait(s)being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Althoughbackcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic beingtransferred is a single gene and dominant allele, multiple genes andrecessive allele(s) may also be transferred and therefore, backcrossbreeding is by no means restricted to character(s) governed by one or afew genes. In fact the number of genes might be less important that theidentification of the character(s) in the segregating population. Inthis instance it may then be necessary to introduce a test of theprogeny to determine if the desired characteristic(s) has beensuccessfully transferred. Such tests encompass visual inspection, simplecrossing, but also follow up of the characteristic(s) throughgenetically associated markers and molecular assisted breeding tools.For example, selection of progeny containing the transferred trait isdone by direct selection, visual inspection for a trait associated witha dominant allele, while the selection of progeny for a trait that istransferred via a recessive allele, such as the pvr2 potato virus Yresistance gene in pepper, require selfing the progeny or usingmolecular markers to determine which plant carry the recessiveallele(s).

In 1981, the backcross method of breeding counted for 17% of the totalbreeding effort for inbred line development in the United States,accordingly to, Hallauer, A. R. et al. (1988) “Corn Breeding” Corn andCorn Improvement, No. 18, pp. 463-481.

The backcross breeding method provides a precise way of improvingvarieties that excel in a large number of attributes but are deficientin a few characteristics. (Page 150 of the Pr. R. W. Allard's 1960 book,published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Principles of Plant Breeding). Themethod makes use of a series of backcrosses to the variety to beimproved during which the character or the characters in whichimprovement is sought is maintained by selection. At the end of thebackcrossing the gene or genes being transferred unlike all other genes,will be heterozygous. Selfing after the last backcross produceshomozygosity for this gene pair(s) and, coupled with selection, willresult in a parental line of a hybrid variety with exactly oressentially the same adaptation, yielding ability and qualitycharacteristics of the recurrent parent but superior to that parent inthe particular characteristic(s) for which the improvement program wasundertaken. Therefore, this method provides the plant breeder with ahigh degree of genetic control of his work.

The method is scientifically exact because the morphological andagricultural features of the improved variety could be described inadvance and because a similar variety could, if it were desired, be breda second time by retracing the same steps (Briggs, “Breeding wheatsresistant to bunt by the backcross method”, 1930 Jour. Amer. Soc.Agron., 22: 289-244).

Backcrossing is a powerful mechanism for achieving homozygosity and anypopulation obtained by backcrossing must rapidly converge on thegenotype of the recurrent parent. When backcrossing is made the basis ofa plant breeding program, the genotype of the recurrent parent will betheoretically modified only with regards to genes being transferred,which are maintained in the population by selection.

Successful backcrosses are, for example, the transfer of stem rustresistance from ‘Hope’ wheat to ‘Bart wheat’ and even pursuing thebackcrosses with the transfer of bunt resistance to create ‘Bart 38’,having both resistances. Also highlighted by Allard is the successfultransfer of mildew, leaf spot and wilt resistances in California Commonalfalfa to create ‘Caliverde’. This new ‘Caliverde’ variety producedthrough the backcross process is indistinguishable from CaliforniaCommon except for its resistance to the three named diseases.

One of the advantages of the backcross method is that the breedingprogram can be carried out in almost every environment that will allowthe development of the character being transferred or when usingmolecular markers that can identify the trait of interest.

The backcross technique is not only desirable when breeding for diseaseresistance but also for the adjustment of morphological characters,colour characteristics and simply inherited quantitative characters suchas earliness, plant height and seed size and shape. In this regard, amedium grain type variety, ‘Calady’, has been produced by Jones andDavis. As dealing with quantitative characteristics, they selected thedonor parent with the view of sacrificing some of the intensity of thecharacter for which it was chosen, i.e. grain size. ‘Lady Wright’, along grain variety was used as the donor parent and ‘Coloro’, a shortgrain one as the recurrent parent. After four backcrosses, the mediumgrain type variety ‘Calady’ was produced.

iii Open-Pollinated Populations

The improvement of open-pollinated populations of such crops as rye,many maizes and sugar beets, herbage grasses, legumes such as alfalfaand clover, and tropical tree crops such as cacao, coconuts, oil palmand some rubber, depends essentially upon changing gene-frequenciestowards fixation of favorable alleles while maintaining a high (but farfrom maximal) degree of heterozygosity.

Uniformity in such populations is impossible and trueness-to-type in anopen-pollinated variety is a statistical feature of the population as awhole, not a characteristic of individual plants. Thus, theheterogeneity of open-pollinated populations contrasts with thehomogeneity (or virtually so) of inbred lines, clones and hybrids.

Population improvement methods fall naturally into two groups, thosebased on purely phenotypic selection, normally called mass selection,and those based on selection with progeny testing. Interpopulationimprovement utilizes the concept of open breeding populations; allowinggenes to flow from one population to another. Plants in one population(cultivar, strain, ecotype, or any germplasm source) are crossed eithernaturally (e.g., by wind) or by hand or by bees (commonly Apis melliferaL. or Megachile rotundata F.) with plants from other populations.Selection is applied to improve one (or sometimes both) population(s) byisolating plants with desirable traits from both sources.

There are basically two primary methods of open-pollinated populationimprovement.

First, there is the situation in which a population is changed en masseby a chosen selection procedure. The outcome is an improved populationthat is indefinitely propagated by random-mating within itself inisolation.

Second, the synthetic variety attains the same end result as populationimprovement, but is not itself propagated as such; it has to bereconstructed from parental lines or clones. These plant breedingprocedures for improving open-pollinated populations are well known tothose skilled in the art and comprehensive reviews of breedingprocedures routinely used for improving cross-pollinated plants areprovided in numerous texts and articles, including: Allard, Principlesof Plant Breeding, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1960); Simmonds, Principlesof Crop Improvement, Longman Group Limited (1979); Hallauer and Miranda,Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding, Iowa State University Press(1981); and, Jensen, Plant Breeding Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.(1988).

A) Mass Selection

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variablepopulation of heterozygous individuals is either identified or createdby intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued. In massselection, desirable individual plants are chosen, harvested, and theseed composited without progeny testing to produce the followinggeneration. Since selection is based on the maternal parent only, andthere is no control over pollination, mass selection amounts to a formof random mating with selection. As stated above, the purpose of massselection is to increase the proportion of superior genotypes in thepopulation.

B) Synthetics

A synthetic variety is produced by intercrossing a number of genotypesselected for good combining ability in all possible hybrid combinations,with subsequent maintenance of the variety by open pollination. Whetherparents are (more or less inbred) seed-propagated lines, as in somesugar beet and beans (Vicia) or clones, as in herbage grasses, cloversand alfalfa, makes no difference in principle. Parents are selected ongeneral combining ability, sometimes by test crosses or toperosses, moregenerally by polycrosses. Parental seed lines may be deliberately inbred(e.g. by selfing or sib crossing). However, even if the parents are notdeliberately inbred, selection within lines during line maintenance willensure that some inbreeding occurs. Clonal parents will, of course,remain unchanged and highly heterozygous.

Whether a synthetic can go straight from the parental seed productionplot to the farmer or must first undergo one or more cycles ofmultiplication depends on seed production and the scale of demand forseed. In practice, grasses and clovers are generally multiplied once ortwice and are thus considerably removed from the original synthetic.

While mass selection is sometimes used, progeny testing is generallypreferred for polycrosses, because of their operational simplicity andobvious relevance to the objective, namely exploitation of generalcombining ability in a synthetic.

The number of parental lines or clones that enters a synthetic varieswidely. In practice, numbers of parental lines range from 10 to severalhundred, with 100-200 being the average. Broad based synthetics formedfrom 100 or more clones would be expected to be more stable during seedmultiplication than narrow based synthetics.

iv. Hybrids

A hybrid is an individual plant resulting from a cross between parentsof differing genotypes. Commercial hybrids are now used extensively inmany crops, including corn (maize), sorghum, sugarbeet, sunflower,broccoli and pepper. Hybrids can be formed in a number of differentways, including by crossing two parents directly (single cross hybrids),by crossing a single cross hybrid with another parent (three-way ortriple cross hybrids), or by crossing two different hybrids (four-way ordouble cross hybrids).

Strictly speaking, most individuals in an out breeding (i.e.,open-pollinated) population are hybrids, but the term is usuallyreserved for cases in which the parents are individuals whose genomesare sufficiently distinct for them to be recognized as different speciesor subspecies. Hybrids may be fertile or sterile depending onqualitative and/or quantitative differences in the genomes of the twoparents. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is usually associated withincreased heterozygosity that results in increased vigor of growth,survival, and fertility of hybrids as compared with the parental linesthat were used to form the hybrid. Maximum heterosis is usually achievedby crossing two genetically different, highly inbred lines.

Hybrid commercial pepper seed is produced by controlled handpollination. The anthers of the female parent are removed and pollen ofthe male parent is harvested and manually applied to the stigmaticsurface of the female inbred. Prior to, and after hand pollination,flowers are covered so that insects do not bring foreign pollen andcreate a mix or impurity. Flowers are tagged to identify pollinatedfruit from which seed will be harvested.

Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have beenidentified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long asthe homogeneity of the inbred parent is maintained. A single-crosshybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F1progeny. A double-cross hybrid is produced from four inbred linescrossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F1 hybrids are crossedagain (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor and uniformity exhibited byF1 hybrids is lost in the next generation (F2). Consequently, seed fromF2 hybrid varieties is not used for planting stock.

The production of hybrids is a well-developed industry, involving theisolated production of both the parental lines and the hybrids whichresult from crossing those lines. For a detailed discussion of thehybrid production process, see, e.g., Wright, Commercial Hybrid SeedProduction 8:161-176, In Hybridization of Crop Plants.

v. Bulk Segregation Analysis (BSA)

BSA, a.k.a. bulked segregation analysis, or bulk segregant analysis, isa method described by Michelmore et al. (Michelmore et al., 1991,Identification of markers linked to disease-resistance genes by bulkedsegregant analysis: a rapid method to detect markers in specific genomicregions by using segregating populations. Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences, USA, 99:9828-9832) and Quarrie et al. (Quarrie etal., 1999, Journal of Experimental Botany, 50(337): 1299-1306).

For BSA of a trait of interest, parental lines with certain differentphenotypes are chosen and crossed to generate F2, doubled haploid orrecombinant inbred populations with QTL analysis. The population is thenphenotyped to identify individual plants or lines having high or lowexpression of the trait. Two DNA bulks are prepared, one from theindividuals having one phenotype (e.g., resistant to virus), and theother from the individuals having reversed phenotype (e.g., susceptibleto virus), and analyzed for allele frequency with molecular markers.Only a few individuals are required in each bulk (e.g., 10 plants each)if the markers are dominant (e.g., RAPDs). More individuals are neededwhen markers are co-dominant (e.g., RFLPs, SNPs or SSRs). Markers linkedto the phenotype can be identified and used for breeding or QTL mapping.

vi. Hand-Pollination Method

Hand pollination describes the crossing of plants via the deliberatefertilization of female ovules with pollen from a desired male parentplant. In some embodiments the donor or recipient female parent and thedonor or recipient male parent line are planted in the same field. Theinbred male parent can be planted earlier than the female parent toensure adequate pollen supply at the pollination time. In someembodiments, the male parent and female parent can be planted at a ratioof 1 male parent to 4-10 female parents. The male parent may be plantedat the top of the field for efficient male flower collection duringpollination. Pollination is started when the female parent flower isready to be fertilized. Female flower buds that are ready to open in thefollowing days are identified, covered with paper cups or small paperbags that prevent bee or any other insect from visiting the femaleflowers, and marked with any kind of material that can be easily seenthe next morning. In some embodiments, this process is best done in theafternoon. The male flowers of the male parent are collected in theearly morning before they are open and visited by pollinating insects.The covered female flowers of the female parent, which have opened, areun-covered and pollinated with the collected fresh male flowers of themale parent, starting as soon as the male flower sheds pollen. Thepollinated female flowers are again covered after pollination to preventbees and any other insects visit. The pollinated female flowers are alsomarked. The marked fruits are harvested. In some embodiments, the malepollen used for fertilization has been previously collected and stored.

vii. Bee-Pollination Method

Using the bee-pollination method, the parent plants are usually plantedwithin close proximity. In some embodiments more female plants areplanted to allow for a greater production of seed. Insects are placed inthe field or greenhouses for transfer of pollen from the male parent tothe female flowers of the female parent.

viii. Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING)

Breeding schemes of the present application can include crosses withTILLING® plant lines. TILLING® is a method in molecular biology thatallows directed identification of mutations in a specific gene. TILLING®was introduced in 2000, using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.TILLING® has since been used as a reverse genetics method in otherorganisms such as zebrafish, corn, wheat, rice, soybean, tomato andlettuce.

The method combines a standard and efficient technique of mutagenesiswith a chemical mutagen (e.g., Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)) with asensitive DNA screening-technique that identifies single base mutations(also called point mutations) in a target gene. EcoTILLING is a methodthat uses TILLING® techniques to look for natural mutations inindividuals, usually for population genetics analysis (see Comai, etal., 2003 The Plant Journal 37, 778-786; Gilchrist et al. 2006 Mol.Ecol. 15, 1367-1378; Mejlhede et al. 2006 Plant Breeding 125, 461-467;Nieto et al. 2007 BMC Plant Biology 7, 34-42, each of which isincorporated by reference hereby for all purposes). DEcoTILLING is amodification of TILLING® and EcoTILLING which uses an inexpensive methodto identify fragments (Garvin et al., 2007, DEco-TILLING: An inexpensivemethod for SNP discovery that reduces ascertainment bias. MolecularEcology Notes 7, 735-746).

The TILLING® method relies on the formation of heteroduplexes that areformed when multiple alleles (which could be from a heterozygote or apool of multiple homozygotes and heterozygotes) are amplified in a PCR,heated, and then slowly cooled. As DNA bases are not pairing at themismatch of the two DNA strands (the induced mutation in TILLING® or thenatural mutation or SNP in EcoTILLING), they provoke a shape change inthe double strand DNA fragment which is then cleaved by single strandednucleases. The products are then separated by size on several differentplatforms.

Several TILLING® centers exists over the world that focus onagriculturally important species: UC Davis (USA), focusing on Rice;Purdue University (USA), focusing on Maize; University of BritishColumbia (CA), focusing on Brassica napus; John Innes Centre (UK),focusing on Brassica rapa; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, focusing onArabidopsis; Southern Illinois University (USA), focusing on Soybean;John Innes Centre (UK), focusing on Lotus and Medicago; and INRA(France), focusing on Pea and Tomato.

More detailed description on methods and compositions on TILLING® can befound in U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,075, US 2004/0053236 A1, WO 2005/055704,and WO 2005/048692, each of which is hereby incorporated by referencefor all purposes.

Thus in some embodiments, the breeding methods of the present disclosureinclude breeding with one or more TILLING plant lines with one or moreidentified mutations.

ix Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new variation andsubsequent traits into pepper plants. Mutations that occur spontaneouslyor are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for aplant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase therate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can beincreased by many different means or mutating agents includingtemperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions,radiation (such as X-rays, Gamma rays, neutrons, Beta radiation, orultraviolet radiation), chemical mutagens (such as base analogs like5-bromo-uracil), antibiotics, alkylating agents (such as sulfurmustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethyleneamines, sulfates,sulfonates, sulfones, or lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acidor acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis thetrait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditionalbreeding techniques. Details of mutation breeding can be found in W. R.Fehr, 1993, Principles of Cultivar Development, Macmillan Publishing Co.

New breeding techniques such as the ones involving the uses of ZincFinger Nucleases or oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis shall also beused to generate genetic variability and introduce new traits intopepper varieties.

x. Double Haploids and Chromosome Doubling

One way to obtain homozygous plants without the need to cross twoparental lines followed by a long selection of the segregating progeny,and/or multiple backcrossing is to produce haploids and then double thechromosomes to form doubled haploids. Haploid plants can occurspontaneously, or may be artificially induced via chemical treatments orby crossing plants with inducer lines (Seymour et al. 2012, PNAS vol109, pg 4227-4232; Zhang et al., 2008 Plant Cell Rep. December 27(12)1851-60). The production of haploid progeny can occur via a variety ofmechanisms which can affect the distribution of chromosomes duringgamete formation. The chromosome complements of haploids sometimesdouble spontaneously to produce homozygous doubled haploids (DHs).Mixoploids, which are plants which contain cells having differentploidies, can sometimes arise and may represent plants that areundergoing chromosome doubling so as to spontaneously produce doubledhaploid tissues, organs, shoots, floral parts or plants. Another commontechnique is to induce the formation of double haploid plants with achromosome doubling treatment such as colchicine (El-Hennawy et al.,2011 Vol 56, issue 2 pg 63-72; Doubled Haploid Production in Crop Plants2003 edited by Maluszynski ISBN 1-4020-1544-5). The production ofdoubled haploid plants yields highly uniform inbred lines and isespecially desirable as an alternative to sexual inbreeding oflonger-generation crops. By producing doubled haploid progeny, thenumber of possible gene combinations for inherited traits is moremanageable. Thus, an efficient doubled haploid technology cansignificantly reduce the time and the cost of inbred and cultivardevelopment.

xi. Protoplast Fusion

In another method for breeding plants, protoplast fusion can also beused for the transfer of trait-conferring genomic material from a donorplant to a recipient plant. Protoplast fusion is an induced orspontaneous union, such as a somatic hybridization, between two or moreprotoplasts (cells of which the cell walls are removed by enzymatictreatment) to produce a single bi- or multi-nucleate cell. The fusedcell that may even be obtained with plant species that cannot beinterbred in nature is tissue cultured into a hybrid plant exhibitingthe desirable combination of traits.

xii. Embryo Rescue

Alternatively, embryo rescue may be employed in the transfer ofresistance-conferring genomic material from a donor plant to a recipientplant. Embryo rescue can be used as a procedure to isolate embryo's fromcrosses to rapidly move to the next generation of backcrossing orselfing or wherein plants fail to produce viable seed. In this process,the fertilized ovary or immature seed of a plant is tissue cultured tocreate new plants (see Pierik, 1999, In vitro culture of higher plants,Springer, ISBN 079235267x, 9780792352679, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety).

Grafting

Grafting is a process that has been used for many years in crops such ascucurbitacea, but only recently for pepper. Grafting may be used toprovide a certain level of resistance to telluric pathogens such asPhytophthora or to certain nematodes. Grating is therefore intended toprevent contact between the plant or variety to be cultivated and theinfested soil. The variety of interest used as the graft or scion,optionally an F1 hybrid, is grafted onto the resistant plant used as therootstock. The resistant rootstock remains healthy and provides, fromthe soils, the normal supply for the graft that it isolates from thediseases. In some recent developments, it has also been shown that somerootstocks are also able to improve the agronomic value for the graftedplant and in particular the equilibrium between the vegetative andgenerative development that are always difficult to balance in peppercultivation. See for example US 20140096289 that describes such improvedrootstock pepper plant.

Breeding Evaluation

Each breeding program can include a periodic, objective evaluation ofthe efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria varydepending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain fromselection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard,overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successfulcultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollarexpended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested per se and inhybrid combination and compared to appropriate standards in environmentsrepresentative of the commercial target area(s). The best lines arecandidates for use as parents in new commercial cultivars; those stilldeficient in a few traits may be used as parents to produce newpopulations for further selection or in a backcross program to improvethe parent lines for a specific trait.

In one embodiment, the plants are selected on the basis of one or morephenotypic traits. Skilled persons will readily appreciate that suchtraits include any observable characteristic of the plant, including forexample growth rate, vigor, plant health, maturity, branching,standability or tolerance to breaking or lodging, plant height, branchstrength, leaf coverage area or orientation, height, weight, color,taste, smell, changes in the production of one or more compounds by theplant (including for example, metabolites, proteins, drugs,carbohydrates, oils, and any other compounds).

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic valueis masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors.One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standardcultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicatedobservations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level ofsuperiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition toshowing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivarthat is compatible with industry standards or which creates a newmarket. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional coststo the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for specialadvertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial productionpractices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release ofa new cultivar should take into consideration research and developmentcosts as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. Forseed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easilyand economically.

It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, plants may beselected based on the absence, suppression or inhibition of a certainfeature or trait (such as an undesirable feature or trait) as opposed tothe presence of a certain feature or trait (such as a desirable featureor trait).

Selecting plants based on genotypic information is also envisaged (forexample, including the pattern of plant gene expression, genotype, orpresence of genetic markers). Where the presence of one or more geneticmarker is assessed, the one or more marker may already be known and/orassociated with a particular characteristic of a plant; for example, amarker or markers may be associated with an increased growth rate ormetabolite profile. This information could be used in combination withassessment based on other characteristics in a method of the disclosureto select for a combination of different plant characteristics that maybe desirable. Such techniques may be used to identify novel quantitativetrait loci (QTLs). By way of example, plants may be selected based ongrowth rate, size (including but not limited to weight, height, leafsize, stem size, branching pattern, or the size of any part of theplant), general health, survival, tolerance to adverse physicalenvironments and/or any other characteristic, as described hereinbefore.

Further non-limiting examples include selecting plants based on: speedof seed germination; quantity of biomass produced; increased root,and/or leaf/shoot growth that leads to an increased yield (fruit) orbiomass production; effects on plant growth that results in an increasedseed yield for a crop; effects on plant growth which result in anincreased yield; effects on plant growth that lead to an increasedresistance or tolerance to disease including fungal, viral or bacterialdiseases, to mycoplasma or to pests such as insects, mites or nematodesin which damage is measured by decreased foliar symptoms such as theincidence of bacterial or fungal lesions, or area of damaged foliage orreduction in the numbers of nematode cysts or galls on plant roots, orimprovements in plant yield in the presence of such plant pests anddiseases; effects on plant growth that lead to increased metaboliteyields; effects on plant growth that lead to improved aesthetic appealwhich may be particularly important in plants grown for their form,color or taste, for example the color or the taste of the pepper fruit.

Molecular Breeding Evaluation Techniques

Selection of plants based on phenotypic or genotypic information may beperformed using techniques such as, but not limited to: high through-putscreening of chemical components of plant origin, sequencing techniquesincluding high through-put sequencing of genetic material, differentialdisplay techniques (including DDRT-PCR, and DD-PCR), nucleic acidmicroarray techniques, RNA-seq (transcriptome sequencing), qRTPCR(quantitative real time PCR).

In one embodiment, the evaluating step of a plant breeding programinvolves the identification of desirable traits in progeny plants.Progeny plants can be grown in, or exposed to conditions designed toemphasize a particular trait (e.g. drought conditions for droughttolerance, lower temperatures for freezing tolerant traits). Progenyplants with the highest scores for a particular trait may be used forsubsequent breeding steps.

In some embodiments, plants selected from the evaluation step canexhibit a 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%,65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 120% or more improvement in aparticular plant trait compared to a control plant.

In other embodiments, the evaluating step of plant breeding comprisesone or more molecular biological tests for genes or other markers. Forexample, the molecular biological test can involve probe hybridizationand/or amplification of nucleic acid (e.g., measuring nucleic aciddensity by Northern or Southern hybridization, PCR) and/or immunologicaldetection (e.g., measuring protein density, such as precipitation andagglutination tests, ELISA (e.g., Lateral Flow test or DAS-ELISA),Western blot, immune labeling, immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM),and/or dot blot).

The procedure to perform a nucleic acid hybridization, an amplificationof nucleic acid (e.g., PCR, RT-PCR) or an immunological detection (e.g.,precipitation and agglutination tests, ELISA (e.g., Lateral Flow test orDAS-ELISA), Western blot, RIA, immunogold or immunofluorescent labeling,immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), and/or dot blot tests) areperformed as described elsewhere herein and well-known by one skilled inthe art.

In one embodiment, the evaluating step comprises PCR (semi-quantitativeor quantitative), wherein primers are used to amplify one or morenucleic acid sequences of a desirable gene, or a nucleic acid associatedwith said gene or QTL or a desirable trait (e.g., a co-segregatingnucleic acid, or other marker).

In another embodiment, the evaluating step comprises immunologicaldetection (e.g., precipitation and agglutination tests, ELISA (e.g.,Lateral Flow test or DAS-ELISA), Western blot, RIA, immuno labeling(gold, fluorescent, or other detectable marker), immunosorbent electronmicroscopy (ISEM), and/or dot blot), wherein one or more gene ormarker-specific antibodies are used to detect one or more desirableproteins. In one embodiment, said specific antibody is selected from thegroup consisting of polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies,antibody fragments, and combination thereof.

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) can be utilizedin the present disclosure to determine expression of a gene to assistduring the selection step of a breeding scheme. It is a variant ofpolymerase chain reaction (PCR), a laboratory technique commonly used inmolecular biology to generate many copies of a DNA sequence, a processtermed “amplification”. In RT-PCR, however, RNA strand is first reversetranscribed into its DNA complement (complementary DNA, or cDNA) usingthe enzyme reverse transcriptase, and the resulting cDNA is amplifiedusing traditional or real-time PCR.

RT-PCR utilizes a pair of primers, which are complementary to a definedsequence on each of the two strands of the mRNA. These primers are thenextended by a DNA polymerase and a copy of the strand is made after eachcycle, leading to logarithmic amplification.

RT-PCR includes three major steps. The first step is the reversetranscription (RT) where RNA is reverse transcribed to cDNA using areverse transcriptase and primers. This step is very important in orderto allow the performance of PCR since DNA polymerase can act only on DNAtemplates. The RT step can be performed either in the same tube with PCR(one-step PCR) or in a separate one (two-step PCR) using a temperaturebetween 40° C. and 50° C., depending on the properties of the reversetranscriptase used.

The next step involves the denaturation of the dsDNA at 95° C., so thatthe two strands separate and the primers can bind again at lowertemperatures and begin a new chain reaction. Then, the temperature isdecreased until it reaches the annealing temperature which can varydepending on the set of primers used, their concentration, the probe andits concentration (if used), and the cation concentration. The mainconsideration, of course, when choosing the optimal annealingtemperature is the melting temperature (Tm) of the primers and probes(if used). The annealing temperature chosen for a PCR depends directlyon length and composition of the primers. This is the result of thedifference of hydrogen bonds between A-T (2 bonds) and G-C (3 bonds). Anannealing temperature about 5 degrees below the lowest Tm of the pair ofprimers is usually used.

The final step of PCR amplification is the DNA extension from theprimers which is done by the thermostable Taq DNA polymerase usually at72° C., which is the optimal temperature for the polymerase to work. Thelength of the incubation at each temperature, the temperaturealterations and the number of cycles are controlled by a programmablethermal cycler. The analysis of the PCR products depends on the type ofPCR applied. If a conventional PCR is used, the PCR product is detectedusing for example agarose gel electrophoresis or other polymer gel likepolyacrylamide gels and ethidium bromide (or other nucleic acidstaining).

Conventional RT-PCR is a time-consuming technique with importantlimitations when compared to real time PCR techniques. Furthermore, thespecificity of the assay is mainly determined by the primers, which cangive false-positive results. However, the most important issueconcerning conventional RT-PCR is the fact that it is a semi or even alow quantitative technique, where the amplicon can be visualized onlyafter the amplification ends.

Real time RT-PCR provides a method where the amplicons can be visualizedas the amplification progresses using a fluorescent reporter molecule.There are three major kinds of fluorescent reporters used in real timeRT-PCR, general nonspecific DNA Binding Dyes such as SYBR Green I,TaqMan Probes and Molecular Beacons (including Scorpions).

The real time PCR thermal cycler has a fluorescence detection threshold,below which it cannot discriminate the difference between amplificationgenerated signal and background noise. On the other hand, thefluorescence increases as the amplification progresses and theinstrument performs data acquisition during the annealing step of eachcycle. The number of amplicons will reach the detection baseline after aspecific cycle, which depends on the initial concentration of the targetDNA sequence. The cycle at which the instrument can discriminate theamplification generated fluorescence from the background noise is calledthe threshold cycle (Ct). The higher is the initial DNA concentration,the lower its Ct will be.

Other forms of nucleic acid detection can include next generationsequencing methods such as DNA SEQ or RNA SEQ using any known sequencingplatform including, but not limited to: Roche 454, Solexa GenomeAnalyzer, AB SOLiD, Illumina GA/HiSeq, Ion PGM, Mi Seq, among others(Liu et al., 2012 Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology Volume 2012ID 251364; Franca et al., 2002 Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics 35 pg169-200; Mardis 2008 Genomics and Human Genetics vol 9 pg 387-402).

In other embodiments, nucleic acids may be detected with other highthroughput hybridization technologies including microarrays, gene chips,LNA probes, nanoStrings, and fluorescence polarization detection amongothers.

In some embodiments, detection of markers can be achieved at an earlystage of plant growth by harvesting a small tissue sample (e.g., branch,or leaf disk). This approach is preferable when working with largepopulations as it allows breeders to weed out undesirable progeny at anearly stage and conserve growth space and resources for progeny whichshow more promise. In some embodiments the detection of markers isautomated, such that the detection and storage of marker data is handledby a machine. Recent advances in robotics have also led to full serviceanalysis tools capable of handling nucleic acid/protein markerextractions, detection, storage and analysis.

Quantitative Trait Loci

Breeding schemes of the present application can include crosses betweendonor and recipient plants. In some embodiments said donor plantscontain a gene or genes of interest which may confer the plant with adesirable phenotype. The recipient line can be an elite line havingcertain favorite traits such for commercial production. In oneembodiment, the elite line may contain other genes that also impart saidline with the desired phenotype. When crossed together, the donor andrecipient plant may create a progeny plant with combined desirable lociwhich may provide quantitatively additive effect of a particularcharacteristic. In that case, QTL mapping can be involved to facilitatethe breeding process.

A QTL (quantitative trait locus) mapping can be applied to determine theparts of the donor plant's genome conferring the desirable phenotype,and facilitate the breeding methods. Inheritance of quantitative traitsor polygenic inheritance refers to the inheritance of a phenotypiccharacteristic that varies in degree and can be attributed to theinteractions between two or more genes and their environment. Though notnecessarily genes themselves, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) arestretches of DNA that are closely linked to the genes that underlie thetrait in question. QTLs can be molecularly identified to help mapregions of the genome that contain genes involved in specifying aquantitative trait. This can be an early step in identifying andsequencing these genes.

Typically, QTLs underlie continuous traits (those traits that varycontinuously, e.g. yield, height, level of resistance to virus, etc.) asopposed to discrete traits (traits that have two or several charactervalues, e.g. smooth vs. wrinkled peas used by Mendel in hisexperiments). Moreover, a single phenotypic trait is usually determinedby many genes. Consequently, many QTLs are associated with a singletrait.

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) is a region of DNA that is associatedwith a particular phenotypic trait. Knowing the number of QTLs thatexplains variation in the phenotypic trait tells about the geneticarchitecture of a trait. It may tell that a trait is controlled by manygenes of small effect, or by a few genes of large effect or by a severalgenes of small effect and few genes of larger effect.

Another use of QTLs is to identify candidate genes underlying a trait.Once a region of DNA is identified as contributing to a phenotype, itcan be sequenced. The DNA sequence of any genes in this region can thenbe compared to a database of DNA for genes whose function is alreadyknown.

In a recent development, classical QTL analyses are combined with geneexpression profiling i.e. by DNA microarrays. Such expression QTLs(e-QTLs) describes cis- and trans-controlling elements for theexpression of often disease-associated genes. Observed epistatic effectshave been found beneficial to identify the gene responsible by across-validation of genes within the interacting loci with metabolicpathway- and scientific literature databases.

QTL mapping is the statistical study of the alleles that occur in alocus and the phenotypes (physical forms or traits) that they produce(see, Meksem and Kahl, The handbook of plant genome mapping: genetic andphysical mapping, 2005, Wiley-VCH, ISBN 3527311165, 9783527311163).Because most traits of interest are governed by more than one gene,defining and studying the entire locus of genes related to a trait giveshope of understanding what effect the genotype of an individual mighthave in the real world.

Statistical analysis is required to demonstrate that different genesinteract with one another and to determine whether they produce asignificant effect on the phenotype. QTLs identify a particular regionof the genome as containing one or several genes, i.e. a cluster ofgenes that is associated with the trait being assayed or measured. Theyare shown as intervals across a chromosome, where the probability ofassociation is plotted for each marker used in the mapping experiment.

To begin, a set of genetic markers must be developed for the species inquestion. A marker is an identifiable region of variable DNA. Biologistsare interested in understanding the genetic basis of phenotypes(physical traits). The aim is to find a marker that is significantlymore likely to co-occur with the trait than expected by chance, that is,a marker that has a statistical association with the trait. Ideally,they would be able to find the specific gene or genes in question, butthis is a long and difficult undertaking. Instead, they can more readilyfind regions of DNA that are very close to the genes in question. When aQTL is found, it is often not the actual gene underlying the phenotypictrait, but rather a region of DNA that is closely linked with the gene.

For organisms whose genomes are known, one might now try to excludegenes in the identified region whose function is known with somecertainty not to be connected with the trait in question. If the genomeis not available, it may be an option to sequence the identified regionand determine the putative functions of genes by their similarity togenes with known function, usually in other genomes. This can be doneusing BLAST, an online tool that allows users to enter a primarysequence and search for similar sequences within the BLAST database ofgenes from various organisms.

Another interest of statistical geneticists using QTL mapping is todetermine the complexity of the genetic architecture underlying aphenotypic trait. For example, they may be interested in knowing whethera phenotype is shaped by many independent loci, or by a few loci, andhow do those loci interact. This can provide information on how thephenotype may be evolving.

Molecular markers are used for the visualization of differences innucleic acid sequences. This visualization is possible due to DNA-DNAhybridization techniques (RFLP) and/or due to techniques using thepolymerase chain reaction (e.g. STS, SNPs, microsatellites, AFLP). Alldifferences between two parental genotypes will segregate in a mappingpopulation based on the cross of these parental genotypes. Thesegregation of the different markers may be compared and recombinationfrequencies can be calculated. The recombination frequencies ofmolecular markers on different chromosomes are generally 50%. Betweenmolecular markers located on the same chromosome the recombinationfrequency depends on the distance between the markers. A lowrecombination frequency usually corresponds to a low distance betweenmarkers on a chromosome. Comparing all recombination frequencies willresult in the most logical order of the molecular markers on thechromosomes. This most logical order can be depicted in a linkage map(Paterson, 1996, Genome Mapping in Plants. R. G. Landes, Austin.). Agroup of adjacent or contiguous markers on the linkage map that isassociated to a reduced disease incidence and/or a reduced lesion growthrate pinpoints the position of a QTL.

The nucleic acid sequence of a QTL may be determined by methods known tothe skilled person. For instance, a nucleic acid sequence comprisingsaid QTL or a resistance-conferring part thereof may be isolated from adonor plant by fragmenting the genome of said plant and selecting thosefragments harboring one or more markers indicative of said QTL.Subsequently, or alternatively, the marker sequences (or parts thereof)indicative of said QTL may be used as (PCR) amplification primers, inorder to amplify a nucleic acid sequence comprising said QTL from agenomic nucleic acid sample or a genome fragment obtained from saidplant. The amplified sequence may then be purified in order to obtainthe isolated QTL. The nucleotide sequence of the QTL, and/or of anyadditional markers comprised therein, may then be obtained by standardsequencing methods.

One or more such QTLs associated with a desirable trait in a donor plantcan be transferred to a recipient plant to incorporate the desirabletrait into progeny plants by transferring and/or breeding methods.

In one embodiment, an advanced backcross QTL analysis (AB-QTL) is usedto discover the nucleotide sequence or the QTLs responsible for theresistance of a plant. Such method was proposed by Tanksley and Nelsonin 1996 (Tanksley and Nelson, 1996, Advanced backcross QTL analysis: amethod for simultaneous discovery and transfer of valuable QTL fromun-adapted germplasm into elite breeding lines. Theor Appl Genet92:191-203) as a new breeding method that integrates the process of QTLdiscovery with variety development, by simultaneously identifying andtransferring useful QTL alleles from un-adapted (e.g., land races, wildspecies) to elite germplasm, thus broadening the genetic diversityavailable for breeding. AB-QTL strategy was initially developed andtested in tomato, and has been adapted for use in other crops includingrice, maize, wheat, pepper, barley, and bean. Once favorable QTL allelesare detected, only a few additional marker-assisted generations arerequired to generate near isogenic lines (NILs) or introgression lines(ILs) that can be field tested in order to confirm the QTL effect andsubsequently used for variety development.

Isogenic lines in which favorable QTL alleles have been fixed can begenerated by systematic backcrossing and introgressing of marker-defineddonor segments in the recurrent parent background. These isogenic linesare referred to as near isogenic lines (NILs), introgression lines(ILs), backcross inbred lines (BILs), backcross recombinant inbred lines(BCRIL), recombinant chromosome substitution lines (RCSLs), chromosomesegment substitution lines (CSSLs), and stepped aligned inbredrecombinant strains (STAIRSs). An introgression line in plant molecularbiology is a line of a crop species that contains genetic materialderived from a similar species. ILs represent NILs with relatively largeaverage introgression length, while BILs and BCRILs are backcrosspopulations generally containing multiple donor introgressions per line.As used herein, the term “introgression lines or ILs” refers to plantlines containing a single marker defined homozygous donor segment, andthe term “pre-ILs” refers to lines which still contain multiplehomozygous and/or heterozygous donor segments.

To enhance the rate of progress of introgression breeding, a geneticinfrastructure of exotic libraries can be developed. Such an exoticlibrary comprises a set of introgression lines, each of which has asingle, possibly homozygous, marker-defined chromosomal segment thatoriginates from a donor exotic parent, in an otherwise homogenous elitegenetic background, so that the entire donor genome would be representedin a set of introgression lines. A collection of such introgressionlines is referred as libraries of introgression lines or IL libraries(ILLs). The lines of an ILL cover usually the complete genome of thedonor, or the part of interest. Introgression lines allow the study ofquantitative trait loci, but also the creation of new varieties byintroducing exotic traits. High resolution mapping of QTL using ILLsenable breeders to assess whether the effect on the phenotype is due toa single QTL or to several tightly linked QTL affecting the same trait.In addition, sub-ILs can be developed to discover molecular markerswhich are more tightly linked to the QTL of interest, which can be usedfor marker-assisted breeding (MAB). Multiple introgression lines can bedeveloped when the introgression of a single QTL is not sufficient toresult in a substantial improvement in agriculturally important traits(Gur and Zamir, Unused natural variation can lift yield barriers inplant breeding, 2004, PLoS Biol.; 2(10):e245).

Tissue Culture

As it is well known in the art, tissue culture of pepper can be used forthe in vitro regeneration of pepper plants. Tissues cultures of varioustissues of pepper and regeneration of plants therefrom are well knownand published. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs hasbeen used to produce regenerated plants as described in Girish-Chandelet al., Advances in Plant Sciences. 2000, 13: 1, 11-17, Costa et al.,Plant Cell Report. 2000, 19: 3327-332, Plastira et al., ActaHorticulturae. 1997, 447, 231-234, Zagorska et al., Plant Cell Report.1998, 17: 12 968-973, Asahura et al., Breeding Science. 1995, 45:455-459, Chen et al., Breeding Science. 1994, 44: 3, 257-262, Patil etal., Plant and Tissue and Organ Culture. 1994, 36: 2, 255-258. It isclear from the literature that the state of the art is such that thesemethods of obtaining plants are routinely used and have a very high rateof success. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cellswhich upon growth and differentiation produce pepper plants having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of pepper hybrid plantHMX5125, HMX5177 and/or HMX15636.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a compositioncomprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or acollection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplarytypes of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plantcells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems,roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, meristematic cells, axillary buds,ovaries, seed coat, endosperm, hypocotyls, cotyledons and the like.Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well knownin the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs hasbeen used to produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185,5,973,234, and 5,977,445 describe certain techniques, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations relatedtherewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Otherlimitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill inthe art upon a reading of the specification.

Example 1—Development of New HMX5125 Pepper Variety

Breeding History:

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5125 has superior characteristics. The female(FPEP1) and male (MPEP1) parents were crossed to produce hybrid (F1)seeds of HMX5125. The seeds of HMX5125 can be grown to produce hybridplants and parts thereof. The hybrid HMX5125 can be propagated by seedsproduced from crossing pepper inbred line FPEP1 with pepper inbred lineMPEP1 or vegetatively.

The origin and breeding history of hybrid plant HMX5125 can besummarized as follows: the line FPEP1 (a proprietary line owned byHM.CLAUSE, Inc.) was used as the female plant and crossed by pollen fromMPEP1 (a proprietary line owned by HM.CLAUSE, Inc.). The first trialplanting of this hybrid was done in Immokalee, Fla. in the Fall seasonof the first year. The hybrid was further trialed for two years, anexample of such trial being disclosed in Tables 4 to 7.

The inbred line FPEP1 is used as the female parent in this cross. FPEP1can be characterized as a small plant with a heavy set of medium tolarge size fruit with uniform shape. The fruit mature from green to red.

The inbred line MPEP1 is used as the male parent in this cross. MPEP1can be characterized as a tall plant with a heavy, uniform set ofmedium-dark green color fruit. The fruits are four lobed, extra-largesize with very uniform blocky shape.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5125 is similar to pepper hybrid plant PS09979325. PS 09979325 is a commercial variety. While similar to pepperhybrid plant PS 09979325, there are significant differences includingthe leaf cover which is medium-heavy for HMX5125 while PS 09979325 hasmedium leaf cover; number of petals in HMX5125 is 6 while PS 09979325 is5; intensity of color at green stage is light green for HMX5125 andmedium green for PS 09979325; peduncle attitude for HMX5125 issemi-drooping while PS 09979325 is erect; sinuation of the pericarpexcluding the basal part is absent or very weak for HMX5125 while isweak for PS 09979325; texture of surface of the fruit is smooth inHMX5125 while PS 09979325 is slightly wrinkled; intensity of color atmaturity is medium for HMX5125 while PS 09979325 is dark; fruitglossiness in HMX5125 is weak while PS 09979325 is medium; theresistance to disease is also different, HMX5125 showing a Resistance toXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Xcv 0 to 10 while PS 09979325 isshowing resistance to Xcv 0 to 10 and to Tobacco Mosaic Virus (0).

Some of the criteria used to select the hybrid HMX5125 as well as theirinbred parent lines in various generations include: high yield, uniformfruit set, fruit size and color, uniform fruit size and shape.

The pepper hybrid plant HMX5125 has shown uniformity and stability forthe traits, within the limits of environmental influence for the traitsas described in the following Variety Descriptive Information. Novariant traits have been observed or are expected for agronomicalimportant traits in pepper hybrid HMX5125.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5125 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics, as compared to PS 09979325 (based primarily on datacollected in Immokalee, Fla., all experiments done under the directsupervision of the applicant).

TABLE 1 Plant type: Sweet Genus: Capsicum HMX5125 PS 09979325 Species:Capsicum annuum Rating Rating Seedling: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present hypocotyl Plant: habit (Attitude) semi-uprightsemi-upright Plant: length of stem (from long long cotyledon to firstflower) Plant: shortened internode present present (in upper part)Varieties with shortened internodes more than three more than threeonly: Plant: number of internodes between the first flower and shortenedinternodes Varieties without shortened internodes only: Plant: length ofinternode (on primary side shoots) Plant: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present nodes Plant: intensity of anthocyanin weak very weakcoloration of stem nodes Plant: hairiness of stem nodes absent or veryweak absent or very weak Plant: height medium medium Plant: leaf covermedium-heavy medium Leaf: length of blade long long Leaf: width of bladebroad broad Leaf: petiole length (cm) 5.5 3.16 Leaf: intensity of greencolor medium medium Leaf: shape lanceolate lanceolate Leaf: undulationof margin absent or very weak absent or very weak Leaf: blistering veryweak very weak Leaf: profile in cross section flat flat Leaf: glossinessmedium very weak Flower: anthocyanin coloration in present presentanther Fruit: type bell bell Fruit: color (before maturity) green greenFruit: intensity of color light green medium green (before maturity)Fruit: anthocyanin coloration present present Fruit: attitude droopingdrooping Fruit: peduncle attitude semi-drooping erect Fruit: lengthshort short Fruit: diameter broad broad Fruit: ratio length/diametermedium medium Fruit: shape in longitudinal section square square Fruit:shape in cross section circular circular (at level of placenta) Fruit:sinuation of pericarp at basal absent or very weak weak part Fruit:sinuation of pericarp excluding absent or very weak weak basal partFruit: texture of surface smooth slightly wrinkled Fruit: color red redFruit: intensity of color (at maturity) medium dark Fruit: glossinessweak medium Fruit: stalk cavity present present Fruit: depth of stalkcavity medium medium Fruit: shape of apex very depressed very depressedFruit: depth of interloculary grooves very shallow very shallow Fruit:number of locules predominately four and more predominately four andmore Fruit: thickness of flesh thick thick Fruit: stalk length mediummedium Fruit: stalk thickness thick thick Fruit: calyx aspectnon-enveloping non-enveloping Fruit: capsaicin in placenta absent absentFruit: flavor moderate pepper flavor moderate pepper flavor Fruit:setting pattern semi-concentrate (scattered) semi-concentrate(scattered) Flower: flower number per leave axil 1 1 Flower: numbercalyx lobes 6 6 Flower: number petals 6 5 Flower: corolla color whitewhite Flower: corolla throat markings yellow yellow Flower: style lengthless than stamen less than stamen Flower: self-incompatibility absentabsent Seed: color yellow yellow Anthocyanin: stem present presentAnthocyanin: node present present Anthocyanin: leaf absent absentAnthocyanin: pedicel absent absent Anthocyanin: calyx absent absentAnthocyanin: anther present present Anthocyanin: pungency sweet sweetTime of beginning of flowering (first early early flower on secondflowering node) Time of maturity late late Resistance to TobamovirusPathotype 0 (Tobacco MosaicVirus (0)) absent Present Pathotype 1-2(Tomato MosaicVirus (1-2)) N/A N/A Pathotype 1-2-3 (Pepper Mild MottleVirus (1-2-3)) N/A N/A Resistance to Potato Virus Y (PVY) Pathotype 0absent absent Pathotype 1 N/A N/A Pathotype 1-2 N/A N/A Resistance toPhytophthora capsici absent absent Resistance to Cucumber MosaicVirus(CMV) N/A N/A Resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) absentabsent Resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Xcv 0, 1, 2,3 7, 8 present present Xcv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 present present Xcv0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 present present bs5 gene presentpresent

Example 2—Development of New HMX5177 Pepper Variety

Breeding History:

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5177 has superior characteristics. The female(FPEP2) and male (MPEP1) parents were crossed to produce hybrid (F1)seeds of HMX5177. The seeds of HMX5177 can be grown to produce hybridplants and parts thereof. The hybrid HMX5177 can be propagated by seedsproduced from crossing pepper inbred line FPEP2 with pepper inbred lineMPEP1 or vegetatively.

The origin and breeding history of hybrid plant HMX5177 can besummarized as follows: the line FPEP2 (a proprietary line owned byHM.CLAUSE, Inc.) was used as the female plant and crossed by pollen fromMPEP1 (a proprietary line owned by HM.CLAUSE, Inc.). The first trialplanting of this hybrid was done in Immokalee, Fla. in the Fall seasonof the first year. The hybrid was further trialed for two years, anexample of such trial being disclosed in Tables 8 to 11.

The inbred line FPEP2 is used as the female parent in this cross. FPEP2can be characterized as a small plant with a heavy set of large sizefruit with uniform shape. The fruit mature from green to red.

The inbred line MPEP1 is used as the male parent in this cross. MPEP1can be characterized as a tall plant with a heavy, uniform set ofmedium-dark green color fruit. The fruit are four lobed, extra-largesize with very uniform blocky shape.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5177 is similar to pepper hybrid plant PS09979325. PS 09979325 is a commercial variety. While similar to pepperhybrid plant PS 09979325, there are significant differences includingthe plant height is short for HMX5177, while medium for PS 09979325;stem length is medium for HMX5177, while long for PS 09979325; leafcover is medium-heavy for HMX5177 while PS 09979325 has medium leafcover, number of petals in HMX5177 is 6 while PS 09979325 is 5; lengthof the leaf blade is medium for HMX5177 while long for PS 09979325; leafglossiness is medium for HMX5177 while very weak for PS 09979325; fruitsetting is concentrated in HMX5177 while it is scattered in PS 09979325.peduncle attitude for HMX5177 is semi-drooping while PS 09979325 iserect; texture of surface in fruit is smooth in HMX5177 while PS09979325 is slightly wrinkled; intensity of color at maturity is mediumfor HMX5177 while PS 09979325 is dark; resistance to disease is alsodifferent, HMX5177 showing a Resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria Xcv 0 to 10 while PS 09979325 is showing resistance to Xcv 0to 10 and to Tobacco Mosaic Virus (0).

Some of the criteria used to select the hybrid HMX5177 as well as theirinbred parent lines in various generations include: high yield, uniformand concentrated fruit set, uniform fruit size, color and shape.

The pepper hybrid plant HMX5177 has shown uniformity and stability forthe traits, within the limits of environmental influence for the traits,as described in the following Variety Descriptive Information. Novariant traits have been observed or are expected for agronomicalimportant traits in pepper hybrid HMX5177.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX5177 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics, as compared to PS 09979325 (based primarily on datacollected in Immokalee, Fla., all experiments done under the directsupervision of the applicant).

TABLE 2 Plant type: Sweet Genus: Capsicum HMX5177 PS 09979325 Species:Capsicum annuum Rating Rating Seedling: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present hypocotyl Plant: habit (Attitude) semi-uprightsemi-upright Plant: length of stem (from medium long cotyledon to firstflower) Plant: shortened internode present present (in upper part)Varieties with shortened internodes more than three more than threeonly: Plant: number of internodes between the first flower and shortenedinternodes Varieties without shortened internodes only: Plant: length ofinternode (on primary side shoots) Plant: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present nodes Plant: intensity of anthocyanin weak very weakcoloration of stem nodes Plant: hairiness of stem nodes absent or veryweak absent or very weak Plant: height Short medium Plant: leaf covermedium heavy medium Leaf: length of blade medium long Leaf: width ofblade broad broad Leaf: petiole length (cm) 5 3.16 Leaf: intensity ofgreen color medium medium Leaf: shape lanceolate lanceolate Leaf:undulation of margin absent or very weak absent or very weak Leaf:blistering very weak very weak Leaf: profile in cross section flat flatLeaf: glossiness medium very weak Flower: anthocyanin coloration inpresent present anther Fruit: type bell bell Fruit: color (beforematurity) green green Fruit: intensity of color medium medium (beforematurity) Fruit: anthocyanin coloration present present Fruit: attitudedrooping drooping Fruit: peduncle attitude semi-drooping erect Fruit:length short short Fruit: diameter broad broad Fruit: ratiolength/diameter medium medium Fruit: shape in longitudinal sectionsquare square Fruit: shape in cross section circular circular (at levelof placenta) Fruit: sinuation of pericarp at basal weak weak part Fruit:sinuation of pericarp excluding absent or very weak weak basal partFruit: texture of surface smooth or very slightly slightly wrinkledwrinkled Fruit: color red red Fruit: intensity of color (at maturity)medium dark Fruit: glossiness medium medium Fruit: stalk cavity presentpresent Fruit: depth of stalk cavity medium medium Fruit: shape of apexvery depressed very depressed Fruit: depth of interloculary grooves veryshallow very shallow Fruit: number of locules predominately four andmore predominately four and more Fruit: thickness of flesh thick thickFruit: stalk length medium medium Fruit: stalk thickness thick thickFruit: calyx aspect non-enveloping non-enveloping Fruit: capsaicin inplacenta absent absent Fruit: flavor moderate pepper flavor moderatepepper flavor Fruit: setting pattern concentrate semi-concentrate(scattered) Flower: flower number per leave axil 1 1 Flower: numbercalyx lobes 6 6 Flower: number petals 6 5 Flower: corolla color whitewhite Flower: corolla throat markings yellow yellow Flower: style lengthless than stamen less than stamen Flower: self-incompatibility absentabsent Seed: color yellow yellow Anthocyanin: stem present presentAnthocyanin: node present present Anthocyanin: leaf absent absentAnthocyanin: pedicel absent absent Anthocyanin: calyx absent absentAnthocyanin: anther present present Anthocyanin: pungency sweet sweetTime of beginning of flowering (first early early flower on secondflowering node) Time of maturity late late Resistance to TobamovirusPathotype 0 (Tobacco MosaicVirus (0)) absent Present Pathotype 1-2(Tomato MosaicVirus (1-2)) N/A N/A Pathotype 1-2-3 (Pepper Mild MottleVirus (1-2-3)) N/A N/A Resistance to Potato Virus Y (PVY) Pathotype 0absent absent Pathotype 1 N/A N/A Pathotype 1-2 N/A N/A Resistance toPhytophthora capsici absent absent Resistance to Cucumber Mosaic N/A N/AVirus (CMV) Resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt absent absent Virus (TSWV)Resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Xcv 0, 1, 2, 3 7, 8present present Xcv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 present present Xcv 0, 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 present present bs5 gene present present

Example 3—Development of New HMX15636 Pepper Variety

Breeding History:

Pepper hybrid plant HMX15636 has superior characteristics. The female(FPEP3) and male (MPEP2) parents were crossed to produce hybrid (F1)seeds of HMX15636. The seeds of HMX15636 can be grown to produce hybridplants and parts thereof. The hybrid HMX15636 can be propagated by seedsproduced from crossing pepper inbred line FPEP3 with pepper inbred lineMPEP2 or vegetatively.

The origin and breeding history of hybrid plant HMX15636 can besummarized as follows: the line FPEP3 (a proprietary line owned byHM.CLAUSE, Inc.) was used as the female plant and crossed by pollen fromMPEP2 (a proprietary line owned by HM.CLAUSE, Inc.). The first trialplanting of this hybrid was done in Tifton, Ga. in the Spring season ofthe first year. The hybrid was further trialed for two years, an exampleof such trial being disclosed in Tables 12 to 15.

The inbred line FPEP3 is used as the female parent in this cross. FPEP3can be characterized as a medium plant with a heavy leaf cover, and anheavy set of medium to large size fruit with uniform shape. The fruitmature from green to red.

The inbred line MPEP2 is used as the male parent in this cross. MPEP2can be characterized as a medium plant with a heavy, uniform set ofmedium green color fruit. The fruit are four lobed, medium to large sizewith very uniform blocky shape.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX15636 is similar to pepper hybrid plant PS09979325 (note: the check variety). PS 09979325 is a commercial variety.While similar to pepper hybrid plant PS 09979325, there are significantdifferences including the leaf cover which is medium-heavy for HMX15636while PS 09979325 has medium leaf cover, number of petals in HMX15636 is6 while PS 09979325 is 5; HMX51636 displays medium fruit length andrectangular shape while PS 09979325 is short fruit and square shape.Number of locules in HMX51636 is equally three or four while PS 09979325is predominately four and more. Peduncle attitude for HMX15636 issemi-drooping while PS 09979325 is erect; sinuation of the pericarpexcluding the basal part is absent or very weak for HMX15636 while it isweak for PS 09979325; resistance to disease is also different, HMX15636has Resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Xcv 0 to 10,resistance to Tobacco Mosaic Virus, pathotype 0, and resistance toTomato Spotted Wild Virus (TSWV); while PS 09979325 has resistance toXcv 0 to 10 and to Tobacco Mosaic Virus (0).

Some of the criteria used to select the hybrid HMX15636 as well as theirinbred parent lines in various generations include: high yield, uniformfruit set, fruit size and color, and fruit shape.

The pepper hybrid plant HMX15636 has shown uniformity and stability forthe traits, within the limits of environmental influence for the traitsas described in the following Variety Descriptive Information. Novariant traits have been observed or are expected for agronomicalimportant traits in pepper hybrid HMX15636.

Pepper hybrid plant HMX15636 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics, as compared to PS 09979325 (based primarily on datacollected in Lake Park, Ga., all experiments done under the directsupervision of the applicant).

TABLE 3 Plant type: Sweet Genus: Capsicum HMX15636 PS 09979325 Species:Capsicum annuum Rating Rating Seedling: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present hypocotyl Plant: habit (Attitude) semi-uprightsemi-upright Plant: length of stem (from long long cotyledon to firstflower) Plant: shortened internode present present (in upper part)Varieties with shortened internodes more than three more than threeonly: Plant: number of internodes between the first flower and shortenedinternodes Varieties without shortened internodes only: Plant: length ofinternode (on primary side shoots) Plant: anthocyanin coloration ofpresent present nodes Plant: intensity of anthocyanin weak very weakcoloration of stem nodes Plant: hairiness of stem nodes weak absent orvery weak Plant: height medium medium Plant: leaf cover medium-heavymedium Leaf: length of blade long long Leaf: width of blade broad broadLeaf: petiole length (cm) 5.5 3.16 Leaf: intensity of green color mediummedium Leaf: shape lanceolate lanceolate Leaf: undulation of marginabsent or very weak absent or very weak Leaf: blistering very weak veryweak Leaf: profile in cross section Flat flat Leaf: glossiness mediumvery weak Flower: anthocyanin coloration in present present antherFruit: type bell bell Fruit: color (before maturity) green green Fruit:intensity of color medium medium (before maturity) Fruit: anthocyanincoloration present present Fruit: attitude drooping drooping Fruit:peduncle attitude semi-drooping erect Fruit: length medium short Fruit:diameter broad broad Fruit: ratio length/diameter medium medium Fruit:shape in longitudinal section rectangular square Fruit: shape in crosssection circular circular (at level of placenta) Fruit: sinuation ofpericarp at basal absent or very weak weak part Fruit: sinuation ofpericarp excluding weak weak basal part Fruit: texture of surfaceslightly wrinkled slightly wrinkled Fruit: color red red Fruit:intensity of color (at maturity) medium dark Fruit: glossiness mediummedium Fruit: stalk cavity present present Fruit: depth of stalk cavitymedium medium Fruit: shape of apex very depressed very depressed Fruit:depth of interloculary grooves very shallow very shallow Fruit: numberof locules equally three and four predominately four and more Fruit:thickness of flesh thick thick Fruit: stalk length medium medium Fruit:stalk thickness thick thick Fruit: calyx aspect non-envelopingnon-enveloping Fruit: capsaicin in placenta absent absent Fruit: flavormoderate pepper flavor moderate pepper flavor Fruit: setting patternsemi-concentrate (scattered) semi-concentrate (scattered) Flower: flowernumber per leave axil 1 1 Flower: number calyx lobes 6 6 Flower: numberpetals 6 5 Flower: corolla color white white Flower: corolla throatmarkings yellow yellow Flower: style length less than stamen less thanstamen Flower: self-incompatibility absent absent Seed: color yellowyellow Anthocyanin: stem present present Anthocyanin: node presentpresent Anthocyanin: leaf absent absent Anthocyanin: pedicel absentabsent Anthocyanin: calyx absent absent Anthocyanin: anther presentpresent Anthocyanin: pungency sweet sweet Time of beginning of flowering(first early early flower on second flowering node) Time of maturitylate late Resistance to Tobamovirus Pathotype 0 (Tobacco MosaicVirus(0)) present present Pathotype 1-2 (Tomato MosaicVirus (1-2)) N/A N/APathotype 1-2-3 (Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (1-2-3)) N/A N/A Resistance toPotato Virus Y (PVY) Pathotype 0 absent absent Pathotype 1 N/A N/APathotype 1-2 N/A N/A Resistance to Phytophthora capsici absent absentResistance to Cucumber Mosaic N/A N/A Virus (CMV) Resistance to TomatoSpotted Wilt present absent Virus (TSWV) Resistance to Xanthomonascampestris pv. vesicatoria Xcv 0, 1, 2, 3 7, 8 present present Xcv 0, 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 present present Xcv 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10present present bs5 gene present present

Example 4—Field Trials Characteristics of Hybrid Pepper Plant HMX5125

In Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7 the traits and characteristics of hybrid pepperplant HMX5125 are compared to the variety PS 09979325. The data wascollected during one growing season from several field locations in theUnited States, all experiments done under the direct supervision of theapplicant.

In Tables 4 and 5, the first line shows the trial location, the secondline shows the “transplanting date”, the third lines shows the “1^(st)harvest date”, the fourth line shows the “2^(nd) harvest date”, thefifth line shows the “Variety name”, the sixth through ninth line showthe “Yield” in the number of “1 1/9 bushel (Bu.) boxes per acre”. Lineseven shows the yield of “Jumbo fruit” which are those fruit greaterthan 4 inches in diameter. Line eight shows the yield of “Extra-largefruit” which are those fruit greater than 3.5 inches in diameter andless than 4 inches in diameter. Line nine shows the yield of “Largefruit” which are those greater than 3 inches in diameter and less than3.5 inches in diameter. Line ten shows the “Total Yield” of all fruitsizes.

TABLE 4 Trial location Boyton Beach, FL Transplanting date November 31st harvest date January 6 2nd harvest date January 19 Variety nameHMX5125 PS 09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 207.4 248.9Extra-large fruit 484.0 322.7 Large fruit 52.8 105.6 Total Yield 744.2677.2

TABLE 5 Trial location Stuart, FL Transplanting date November 21 1stharvest date February 4 2nd harvest date February 22 Variety nameHMX5125 PS 09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 20.7 290.4Extra-large fruit 387.2 387.2 Large fruit 211.2 13.2 Total Yield 619.1690.8

In Tables 6 and 7 the first line shows the “Trial location”, the secondline shows the “Transplanting date”, the third line shows the“Evaluation date” and the fourth line shows the “Variety name”. Thesixth line “Height of the plant” rates the plant height on a 1 to 5scale with 1=very short, 2=short, 3=medium, 4=tall, 5=very tall, theseventh line “Cover of the plant” rates the plant leaf cover on a 1 to 5scales with 1=very poorly covered, 2=poorly covered, 3=medium coverage,4=medium heavy cover, 5=heavy cover. Line eight, “Type of fruits in thebox”, rates the fruit on a 1 to 5 scale with 1=very short, 2=short,3=medium, 4=elongated, 5=very elongated, line nine “Immature color offruits in the box” rates the fruit color on a 1 to 6 scale with 1=ivory,2=light green, 3=medium green, 4=medium dark green, 5=dark green,6=black. Line ten rates the “Size of fruits in the box” on a 1 to 5scale with 1=small, 2=medium, 3=large, 4=extra-large, 5=jumbo, lineeleven rates the fruit “Production in the box” per plot on a 0 to 5scale with 0=no fruit, 1=box 20% full, 2=box 40% full, 3=box 60% full,4=box 80% full, 5=box 100% full.

TABLE 6 Trial Location Sarasota (FL) Transplanting Date August 25Evaluation Date November 2 Variety Name HMX5125 PS 09979325 Trait TypeTrait value Height of the plant 3.5 3 Cover of the plant 3.5 3 Type offruits in the box 3 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 5 5 Size offruits in the box 5 4 Production in the box 3 3

TABLE 7 Trial Location Immokalee (FL) Transplanting Date September 9Evaluation Date November 23 Variety Name HMX5125 PS 09979325 Trait typeTrait value Height of the plant 4 3 Cover of the plant 4 4 Type offruits in the box 3 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 4 5 Size offruits in the box 4 5 Production in the box 4 4

Example 5—Field Trials Characteristics of Hybrid Pepper Plant HMX5177

In Tables 8, 9, 10 and 11 the traits and characteristics of hybridpepper plant HMX5177 are compared to the variety PS 09979325. The datawas collected during one growing season from several field locations inthe United States, all experiments done under the direct supervision ofthe applicant.

In Tables 10 and 11, the first line shows the trial location, the secondline shows the “transplanting date”, the third lines shows the “1^(st)harvest date”, the fourth line shows the “2^(nd) harvest date”, thefifth line shows the “Variety name”, the sixth through ninth line showthe “Yield” in the number of “1 1/9 bushel (Bu.) boxes per acre”. Lineseven shows the yield of “Jumbo fruit” which are those fruit greaterthan 4 inches in diameter. Line eight shows the yield of “Extra-largefruit” which are those fruit greater than 3.5 inches in diameter andless than 4 inches in diameter. Line nine shows the yield of “Largefruit” which are those greater than 3 inches in diameter and less than3.5 inches in diameter. Line ten shows the “Total Yield” of all fruitsizes.

TABLE 8 Trial location Parrish, FL Transplanting date August 25 1stharvest date November 2 2nd date harvest November 13 Variety nameHMX5177 PS 09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 124.0 207.0Extra-large fruit 419.0 871.0 Large fruit 845.0 607.0 Total Yield 1389.01686.0

TABLE 9 Trial location Tifton, GA Transplanting date July 25 1st harvestdate October 16 2nd harvest date October 29 Variety name HMX5177 PS09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 21.0 145.0 Extra-largefruit 710.0 742.0 Large fruit 541.0 158.0 Total Yield 1272.0 1046.0In Tables 10 and 11 the first line shows the “Trial location”, thesecond line shows the “Transplanting date”, the third line shows the“Evaluation date” and the fourth line shows the “Variety name”. Thesixth line “Height of the plant” rates the plant height on a 1 to 5scale with 1=very short, 2=short, 3=medium, 4=tall, 5=very tall, theseventh line “Cover of the plant” rates the plant leaf cover on a 1 to 5scales with 1=very poorly covered, 2=poorly covered, 3=medium coverage,4=medium heavy cover, 5=heavy cover. Line eight, “Type of fruits in thebox”, rates the fruit on a 1 to 5 scale with 1=very short, 2=short,3=medium, 4=elongated, 5=very elongated, line nine “Immature color offruits in the box” rates the fruit color on a 1 to 6 scale with 1=ivory,2=light green, 3=medium green, 4=medium dark green, 5=dark green,6=black. Line ten rates the “Size of fruits in the box” on a 1 to 5scale with 1=small, 2=medium, 3=large, 4=extra-large, 5=jumbo, lineeleven rates the fruit “Production in the box” per plot on a 0 to 5scale with 0=no fruit, 1=box 20% full, 2=box 40% full, 3=box 60% full,4=box 80% full, 5=box 100% full.

TABLE 10 Trial Location Immokalee (FL) Transplanting Date September 9Evaluation Date November 17 Variety Name HMX5177 PS 09979325 Trait typeTrait value Height of the plant 2 4 Cover of the plant 4 4 Type offruits in the box 3 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 4 5 Size offruits in the box 4 4 Production in the box 4 4

TABLE 11 Trial Location Immokalee (FL) Transplanting Date September 9Evaluation Date November 17 Variety Name HMX5177 PS 09979325 Trait typeTrait value Height of the plant 3 3 Cover of the plant 3 4 Type offruits in the box 3 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 4 5 Size offruits in the box 5 5 Production in the box 4 4

Example 6—Field Trials Characteristics of Hybrid Pepper Plant HMX15636

In Tables 12, 13, 14 and 15 the traits and characteristics of hybridpepper plant HMX15636 are compared to the variety PS 09979325. The datawas collected during one growing season from several field locations inthe United States, all experiments done under the direct supervision ofthe applicant.

In Tables 12 and 13, the first line shows the trial location, the secondline shows the “transplanting date”, the third lines shows the “1^(st)harvest date”, the fourth line shows the “2^(nd) harvest date”, thefifth line shows the “Variety name”, the sixth through ninth line showthe “Yield” in the number of “1 1/9 bushel (Bu.) boxes per acre”. Lineseven shows the yield of “Jumbo fruit” which are those fruit greaterthan 4 inches in diameter. Line eight shows the yield of “Extra-largefruit” which are those fruit greater than 3.5 inches in diameter andless than 4 inches in diameter. Line nine shows the yield of “Largefruit” which are those greater than 3 inches in diameter and less than3.5 inches in diameter. Line ten shows the “Total Yield” of all fruitsizes.

TABLE 12 Trial location Parrish, FL Transplanting date August 25 1stharvest date November 2 2nd harvest date November 13 Variety nameHMX15636 PS 09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 41.0 207.0Extra-large fruit 839.0 871.0 Large fruit 871.0 607.0 Total Yield 1752.01686.0

TABLE 13 Trial location Lake Park, GA Transplanting date July 25 1stharvest date October 15 2nd harvest date October 30 Variety nameHMX15636 PS 09979325 Yield ( 11/9 Bu. Boxes/Ac.) Jumbo fruit 41.0 581.0Extra-large fruit 903.0 645.0 Large fruit 449.0 238.0 Total Yield 1394.01464.0In Tables 14 and 15 the first line shows the “Trial location”, thesecond line shows the “Transplanting date”, the third line shows the“Evaluation date” and the fourth line shows the “Variety name”. Thesixth line “Height of the plant” rates the plant height on a 1 to 5scale with 1=very short, 2=short, 3=medium, 4=tall, 5=very tall, theseventh line “Cover of the plant” rates the plant leaf cover on a 1 to 5scales with 1=very poorly covered, 2=poorly covered, 3=medium coverage,4=medium heavy cover, 5=very covered. Line eight, “Type of fruits in thebox”, rates the fruit on a 1 to 5 scale with 1=very short, 2=short,3=medium, 4=elongated, 5=very elongated, line nine “Immature color offruits in the box” rates the fruit color on a 1 to 6 scale with 1=ivory,2=light green, 3=medium green, 4=medium dark green, 5=dark green,6=black. Line ten rates the “Size of fruits in the box” on a 1 to 5scale with 1=small, 2=medium, 3=large, 4=extra-large, 5=jumbo, lineeleven rates the fruit “Production in the box” per plot on a 0 to 5scale with 0=no fruit, 1=box 20% full, 2=box 40% full, 3=box 60% full,4=box 80% full, 5=box 100% full.

TABLE 14 Trial Location Valdosta, GA Transplanting Date July 25Evaluation Date November 15 Variety Name HMX15636 PS 09979325 Trait typeTrait value Height of the plant 3 4 Cover of the plant 4 3 Type offruits in the box 4 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 5 5 Size offruits in the box 5 5 Production in the box 3 2

TABLE 15 Trial Location Lake Park, GA Transplanting Date July 25Evaluation Date November 15 Variety Name HMX15636 PS 09979325 Trait typeTrait value Height of the plant 4 3 Cover of the plant 4 4 Type offruits in the box 4 3 Immature color of fruits in the box 4 5 Size offruits in the box 4 5 Production in the box 5 3

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the pepper seed of this invention is maintained byHM.CLAUSE, Inc., 260 Cousteau Place, Suite 100, Davis, Calif. 95618 USA.In addition, a sample of the pepper hybrid seed of this invention hasbeen deposited with the National Collections of Industrial, Food andMarine Bacteria (NCIMB), 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB243RY, United Kingdom.

To satisfy the enablement requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, and to certifythat the deposit of the isolated strain of the present invention meetsthe criteria set forth in 37 CFR 1.801-1.809, Applicants hereby make thefollowing statements regarding the deposited pepper hybrid HMX5125(deposited as NCIMB Accession No. 42765), HMX5177 (deposited as NCIMBAccession No. 42766) and/or HMX15636 (deposited as NCIMB Accession No.42767):

1. During the pendency of this application, access to the invention willbe afforded to the Commissioner upon request;

2. All restrictions on availability to the public will be irrevocablyremoved upon granting of the patent under conditions specified in 37 CFR1.808;

3. The deposit will be maintained in a public repository for a period of30 years or 5 years after the last request or for the effective life ofthe patent, whichever is longer;

4. A test of the viability of the biological material at the time ofdeposit will be conducted by the public depository under 37 CFR 1.807;and

5. The deposit will be replaced if it should ever become unavailable.

Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of thisapplication to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patents andTrademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. §122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictionson the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocablyremoved by affording access to a deposit of at least 2,500 seeds of thesame variety with the NCIMB.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All references, articles, publications, patents, patent publications,and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference intheir entireties for all purposes.

However, mention of any reference, article, publication, patent, patentpublication, and patent application cited herein is not, and should notbe taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that theyconstitute valid prior art or form part of the common general knowledgein any country in the world.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of Capsicum annuum pepper hybriddesignated HMX5177, wherein a representative sample of seed of saidhybrid having been deposited under NCIMB No.
 42766. 2. A Capsicum annuumpepper plant, a plant part thereof, or a plant cell thereof, produced bygrowing the seed of claim 1, wherein a pepper plant regenerated fromsaid plant part or plant cell has all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of hybrid HMX5177 listed in Table 2 whengrown under the same environmental conditions.
 3. The pepper part ofclaim 2, wherein the pepper part is selected from the group consistingof: a leaf, a flower, and a fruit.
 4. A Capsicum annuum pepper plant, ora plant part, or a plant cell thereof; wherein said Capsicum annuumplant or a Capsicum annuum plant regenerated from said plant part orplant cell has all of the characteristics of hybrid HMX5177, listed inTable 2 when grown under the same environmental conditions.
 5. ACapsicum annuum pepper plant, or a plant part, or a plant cell thereof;wherein said Capsicum annuum plant, or a Capsicum annuum plantregenerated from said plant part or the plant cell has all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid HMX5177, whengrown under the same environmental conditions, wherein a representativesample of seed of said hybrid having been deposited under NCIMB No.42766.
 6. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plantor plant part of claim 2, wherein a plant regenerated from the tissueculture has all of the characteristics of hybrid HMX5177 listed in Table2 when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 7. A Capsicum annuumpepper plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 6, said planthaving all of the characteristics of hybrid HMX5177 listed in Table 2when grown under the same environmental conditions, wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said hybrid having been deposited underNCIMB No.
 42766. 8. A pepper fruit produced from the plant of claim 2.9. A method for harvesting a pepper fruit, comprising a) growing thepepper plant of claim 2 to produce a pepper fruit, and b) harvestingsaid pepper fruit.
 10. A pepper fruit produced by the method of claim 9.11. A method for producing a Capsicum annuum pepper seed, comprisingcrossing a first Capsicum annuum parent pepper plant with a secondCapsicum annuum parent pepper plant and harvesting the resultant pepperseed, wherein said first Capsicum annuum parent pepper plant and/orsecond Capsicum annuum parent pepper plant is the pepper plant of claim2.
 12. A method for producing a Capsicum annuum pepper seed, comprisingself-pollinating the pepper plant of claim 2 and harvesting theresultant pepper seed.
 13. A method of producing a Capsicum annuumpepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177, the methodcomprising: (a) self-pollinating the plant of claim 2 at least once toproduce a progeny plant.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprisingthe steps of: (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from pepper hybridvariety HMX5177 with itself or a second Capsicum annuum pepper plant toproduce a seed of progeny plant of subsequent generation; (c) growingthe progeny plant of the subsequent generation from the seed; (d)crossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself orthe second Capsicum annuum pepper plant to produce a pepper plantderived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177.
 15. The method of claim14 further comprising the step of: (e) repeating step b) and/or c) toproduce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177.16. A method of producing a Capsicum annuum pepper plant derived fromthe pepper hybrid variety HMX5177, the method comprising: (a) crossingthe plant of claim 2 with a second Capsicum annuum pepper plant toproduce a progeny plant.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprisingthe steps of (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from pepper hybridvariety HMX5177 with itself or a second Capsicum annuum pepper plant toproduce a seed of progeny plant of subsequent generation; (c) growingthe progeny plant of the subsequent generation from the seed; (d)crossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself orthe second Capsicum annuum pepper plant to produce a pepper plantderived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177.
 18. The method of claim17 further comprising the step of: (e) repeating step b) and/or c) toproduce a pepper plant derived from the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177.19. The plant of claim 2 comprising a single locus conversion andotherwise essentially all of the characteristics of hybrid HMX5177listed in Tables 2 when grown under the same environmental conditions.20. The plant of claim 19 wherein the single locus conversion conferssaid plant with herbicide resistance.
 21. The plant of claim 19 whereinthe single locus conversion is an artificially mutated gene ornucleotide sequence.
 22. The plant of claim 19 wherein the single locusconversion is a gene that has been modified through the use of NewBreeding Techniques.
 23. A method of producing a pepper plant, saidmethod comprising: using the pepper hybrid variety HMX5177 as arootstock or a scion.